A Cuban identified as YaneisyCanta demonstrated this Thursday how she rehabilitated a handmade well that had been abandoned for years in her home, in response to the severe water shortage facing the Caribbean nation.
In a video posted on Facebook, which has nearly 595,000 views and more than 21,000 reactions, the woman explained that she turned to the well as an alternative due to the lack of water.
"Here in Cuba, we are experiencing an incredible water shortage," he stated.
The first extraction showed that the water was contaminated and could only be used for flushing the toilet. "This water from that well is not fit for drinking. Much less for bathing," warned the Cuban woman, who noted that several followers advised her not to use it for other purposes.
His father took on the task of deepening the well, removing the accumulated stones, and sealing the cracks through which dirty water was seeping back in.
After the work was completed, the availability of water increased significantly. "It's incredible how it was releasing water. It filled up super, super quickly," Yaneisy recounted while showing the results of the repairs.
The Cuban explained that there is still a final cleanup to be done before they can fully take advantage of the well and asked her followers if they would like to know the outcome of that last stage.
In April, it was reported that another Cuban dug a well using a pick and shovel in his backyard and documented it on social media: on the eighth day, at over three meters deep, the well began to produce water.
A few days ago, it was reported that a Cuban woman improvised a rainwater collection system from her roof to her tank, while another showed her family collecting rainwater with buckets after going days without supply.
The water crisis driving these improvised solutions has structural roots. According to official data from May, about 2.7 million Cubans lack regular access to drinking water and several million receive it intermittently, which accounts for nearly the entire population.
The underlying problem is that 87% of Cuba's aqueducts rely on the National Electric System to operate their pumps, meaning that every blackout automatically cuts off the water supply.
Additionally, the system operates with only 37% of the necessary fuel, and four out of ten pumping units are in an advanced state of deterioration.
In Havana, those affected by the water crisis increased from 200,000 in April to over half a million Havanans in July, while between 40% and 70% of the pumped water is lost due to leaks before reaching homes.
The alternative of the informal market is prohibitive for most, as a tank of water can cost between 18,000 and 60,000 Cuban pesos in Havana, which is equivalent to almost 19 minimum monthly salaries.
This reality makes artisanal drilling the only economically viable option for many families, although it is not without risks, considering that in provinces like Matanzas, the proliferation of improvised wells has led to outbreaks of hepatitis A due to cross-contamination with septic tanks.
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