The president of the National Institute of Hydraulic Resources (INRH), Antonio Rodríguez Rodríguez, admitted this Thursday on the official program Mesa Redonda that 87% of the Cuban population supplied by the water system relies on the National Electroenergetic System (SEN), which is experiencing its worst crisis in decades.
"Today, 13% of the population that supplies the water and sanitation system has an alternative, but 87% relies on the national electric power system. And since we are the second largest consumers in the country, it is clear that the impacts are greater," acknowledged the official.
Preliminary figures from the government itself reveal that only 33% have any energy alternative to maintain the water supply.
The situation is worsening because the generation deficit reached approximately 1,881 megawatts in recent days, leaving millions of Cubans without electricity for more than 20 hours a day in some provinces.
According to Rodríguez, there are 3,300 pumping stations in the country, of which 211 are gravity-fed, and there are 834 pumping stations that already have solar panels.
"So today, 13% of the population that provides water and sanitation services has an alternative, but 87% depends on the National Electric System," he said.
The energy crisis is compounded by a historic drought: 2025 was the fifth driest year since 1901, which has drastically reduced reservoirs and water sources across the country.
To "protect" the supply to the population, the official stated that they have established priorities.
They opted to ensure fuel supply for the pumping stations, hospitals, and other vital services.
"The issue is that the deficits are so numerous that in the analysis we conducted to protect the 480 stations, we needed 591 megawatts. If we allocate 591 megawatts solely for water supply, nearly all activities in the country will come to a standstill and the population would have no energy options, which is why we are working in this manner for our sector," he added.
One third of the population without water
According to independent data, more than 3.1 million people face a total or partial lack of access to drinking water.
The institutional response has been inadequate. The plan was only 27% funded, as acknowledged by the government itself before international organizations.
The United Nations presented an Expanded Action Plan requiring 93.4 million dollars to address the humanitarian emergency.
In this context, the population is seeking desperate solutions. In Matanzas, neighbors have opened makeshift wells on sidewalks and in backyards, while in Santiago de Cuba fecal contamination is affecting around 180,000 people who are forced to consume water in poor sanitary conditions.
Due to the shortage, water trucks are being sold on the black market at prices that are unaffordable for most Cubans, turning access to water into a privilege for those who can pay for it.
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