State of Water in the Southwestern Region of Puerto Rico: Perceptions and Experiences

Abstract

Cynthia Burgos-Lopez

Reliable access to drinking water is essential for public health, economic stability, and quality of life, yet communities across Puerto Rico face recurring service interruptions linked to both climatic events and structural limitations of the water system. This study documents how residents of the southwestern region of Puerto Rico experience and perceive these interruptions. Using a descriptive, cross-sectional survey design, data were collected from 149 adults, most of them residents of eight southwestern municipalities (Mayagüez, Lajas, Cabo Rojo, Guánica, Sabana Grande, Yauco, Hormigueros, and San Germán), between April and May 2026, through an online questionnaire distributed by non- probability convenience sampling. Results indicate that water insecurity is structural rather than episodic: while 41.9% of participants reported interruptions one to three times per year, 36.5% reported monthly interruptions and 16.9% weekly or daily ones. Concern about future access increased consistently with the frequency of interruptions, from 61.3% to 100%. Participants attributed the crisis mainly to lack of maintenance, infrastructure breakdowns, and development pressure, while drought was among the least mentioned causes. Nine out of ten participants reported private expenses to cope with interruptions, primarily bottled water and storage tanks, and 73.5% of those who estimated their spending reported more than $100 per year. Although 88.5% considered their community unprepared for extreme events, 83.1% expressed openness to participating in community preparedness initiatives, and the most supported solutions combined system maintenance with water source protection and nature-based solutions. These findings suggest that water security in the region should be addressed as a governance, equity, and territorial planning challenge, through integrated strategies that combine infrastructure investment, land use planning, and community participation.

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