The Deputy Prime Minister Inés María Chapman Waugh led a meeting in Holguín to assess the critical water supply situation in the province, where some areas have experienced shortages lasting over 90 days.
The meeting took place at the headquarters of the provincial government and included the participation of Antonio Rodríguez Rodríguez, president of the National Institute of Hydraulic Resources (INRH); Vicente de la O Levy, Minister of Energy and Mines, executives from the Water and Electricity companies, and local authorities, as reported this Friday by the official newspaper ¡Ahora!
During the meeting, the provincial delegate of the INRH, Juan Mario Hechavarría Hernández, reported that the rains remain below the usual levels for this time of year and that some reservoirs have recently decreased.
Nevertheless, he maintained that water reserves remain at "favorable" levels, albeit with uneven distribution.
The assessment contrasts with the situation described for the Northern system of the city of Holguín, where some areas experience supply shortages lasting over 70 and 90 days.
During the meeting, the conditions of the supply sources, equipment breakdowns, and the limitations of that system were also reviewed.
Among the main problems identified were failures in conductors and pumping equipment, electrical interruptions, and difficulties with the hydraulic infrastructure.
The authorities emphasized the need to coordinate efforts between INRH and the Electric Company to protect the circuits that ensure pumping.
The dependence of the hydraulic system on electricity exacerbates the issues. 87% of the Cuban aqueducts operate with electric power, so service interruptions directly impact the water supply to the population.
In municipalities like Urbano Noris, this vulnerability is extreme, as water must be pumped from the Cauto River, nearly 15 kilometers from the municipal seat, and any power interruption paralyzes the system for hours.
In August, the pumping was halted due to the theft of dielectric oil from the water treatment plant, an incident that left the municipality without supply for weeks.
During the meeting, alternatives to reduce that dependence were also discussed, including the use of gravity-fed systems and the incorporation of renewable energy sources.
In municipalities such as Banes, Mayarí, and Urbano Noris, options were identified to maintain the water supply, while projects aimed at supplying gravity-fed water to communities that rely on pumping stations are underway.
Chapman also called for the recovery of existing capabilities, including wells and associated land, and for the evaluation of the possibility of reactivating groundwater sources, installing windmills and hand pumps, putting available sources into operation, and conducting new drilling.
In September, the Lucía Íñiguez Landín Clinical Surgical Hospital in the city of Holguín w as reported to be without potable water. Patients' companions had to walk almost a kilometer to a private well to obtain it.
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