"When it’s not Juana, it’s her sister": 12-hour water cuts announced in Havana due to "unexpected breakage."

The company Aguas de La Habana announced that the drinking water service will be interrupted in several municipalities of the capital this Friday, March 14, due to an unexpected break in the main line from the Cuenca Sur supply source. The suspension, which will last for 12 hours, from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., will affect the municipalities of Plaza de la Revolución, Cerro, Centro Habana, Habana Vieja, 10 de Octubre, and Boyeros.

According to the entity, the repair work is necessary to address the breakdown and stabilize the service, although the restoration will be carried out gradually. Authorities urged residents to take measures to minimize the impact of the outage, in a context where water supply interruptions have been frequent in the city and several provinces across the country.

The announcement of the water cut has sparked outrage among citizens, who report that the water crisis in Havana is a persistent problem without a solution. "Well, the Consejo Popular Malecón, Vedado, hasn't had water for a long time; this is nothing new, but fix whatever needs to be fixed so we can see if the precious liquid comes back," requested one affected resident. Others lamented that failures in basic services compound one another: "It just doesn't stop, it's one thing after another; yesterday we had no electricity all day, and today no water. They are going to drive us crazy because you can't even get medication, there's none either." From Luyanó, another resident complained that "Luyanó Moderno has been without water for 12 days with no explanation or solution." Meanwhile, the frustration over the recurring situation was also evident: "It's always the same mess when the heat comes; when it's not Juana, it's the sister."

The water crisis in Cuba has generated increasing discontent among the population. In Ciego de Ávila, the supply cycles have been reduced to once every nine days due to drought and the deterioration of the pumping system. In Santiago de Cuba, areas like Punta Gorda Alta and Aguadores have gone more than four months without access to water, which has impacted the hygiene and public health of hundreds of families. Moreover, social media is circulating reports from individuals, such as a Cuban in Villa Clara, who shared on TikTok that she has had to go to the countryside to fetch water to meet her basic needs after more than 50 days without the water reaching the town.

Supply issues have not only resulted in discomfort but also in protests. In Río Cauto, Granma, the government was compelled to install a water pump following pressure from residents, who took to the streets demanding solutions. In Havana, the situation is even more critical due to frequent blackouts that hinder the pumping and distribution of water, worsening the outlook of a crisis that shows no signs of improvement.

This new 12-hour cut in the capital occurs just a week after another similar incident left thousands of Havana residents without service on March 5. On that occasion, the cut coincided with prolonged electrical failures, highlighting the precariousness of basic services in the city. Despite the extent of the disruptions, the Cuban government has not presented an investment plan to ensure the stability of the supply, while the deterioration of infrastructure and the energy crisis continue to affect the daily lives of millions of citizens.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Water Crisis in Havana