Puerto Rico is rationing water after its driest July on record, with 180,000 households in the north-east facing two-day shut-offs and many families already experiencing unreliable supplies for more than 100 days. The article argues that the crisis reflects not only drought but also poor water management and ageing infrastructure, particularly extensive leakage, while rainwater harvesting could provide a quicker, decentralised source of emergency supply.

Puerto Rico receives 30 to 169 inches of rain annually, yet it has not widely adopted rainwater collection systems or required them in building codes. Architect Fernando Abruña estimates that one million households collecting rainwater could capture 30 billion gallons a year, compared with residential use of just over 72 billion gallons; meanwhile, the water authority reportedly loses about 60% of drinking water through leaks. Other island communities, including the US Virgin Islands and Barbados, use cistern requirements or similar measures more extensively.