A video circulated this Saturday on social media shows a man filling barrels at a water distribution point in Havana, where a tank is already being sold for up to 2,500 pesos in the informal market.
The images, posted on Facebook by the user Maykel Chapotín, reflect an increasingly common reality in the Cuban capital, where access to water often depends on purchases in the informal market.
According to the report accompanying the video, a water tank (of 55 gallons, equivalent to 208 liters) costs between 2,000 and 2,500 pesos, an amount that is nearly equal to the monthly minimum wage in Cuba, which has been set at 3,210 CUP since July 1.
The situation is even more critical for those who need a full tank. At the beginning of July, a resident of the Mantilla neighborhood in Havana reported that a private delivery cost 40,000 pesos.
Days later, a resident of Marianao reported that the price had risen to 45,000 pesos, when in March it was around 7,000.
Data collected during July shows offers ranging from 18,000 to 26,000 pesos for trucks carrying 8,000 to 10,000 liters, with some cases reaching up to 50,000 pesos in areas experiencing the greatest shortages.
Indignation is also growing among those affected. "How long will this audacity last? They take away our electricity, they take away our water. What else are they going to take from us?" questioned a young woman from Marianao days ago while reporting the lack of supply in that municipality.
The deterioration of the service is due to structural problems. 87% of Havana's pumping system relies on electricity supply, while blackouts last between 22 and 30 continuous hours.
Out of the 480 pumping stations in the country, only 135 have circuits protected against power outages. Additionally, 40% of the equipment is in poor condition, and the system operates with only 37% of the necessary fuel.
This situation is exacerbated by the deterioration of the hydraulic network. In cities like Havana, between 40% and 70% of the water pumped is lost before reaching homes due to leaks in the pipes.
The number of affected individuals continues to rise. Specialists from Aguas de La Habana reported around 200,000 affected in April, 376,055 in May, and more than 500,000 during July.
Nationwide, around 2.7 million Cubans face daily challenges in accessing water.
The scarcity has led to an increase in social tensions. The Cuban Observatory of Conflicts recorded 107 protests in June, the highest monthly figure since it began tracking this data, with numerous demonstrations related to the lack of water and extended power outages.
In San Miguel del Padrón, neighbors ended up clashing over a bucket of water when only one truck supplied the entire community, while some resorted to using water from septic tanks.
A few days ago, a video surfaced showing a driver of a state tanker pouring water onto the ground in San José de Las Lajas, an incident that triggered a strong reaction on social media.
On Friday, a group of women blocked the Calzada de Diez de Octubre to demand solutions to the power outages and water shortages.
In contrast to this scenario, the ruler Miguel Díaz-Canel visited the Defense Zone Libertad, in Marianao, where he presented the establishment of reservoirs and the use of tanks as advancements in the water supply, despite the fact that over half a million residents of Havana still lack regular access to the service.
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