Puerto Rico has begun rationing water for hundreds of thousands of residents, cutting supplies for 48 hours at a time on a rotating basis, as the US territory battles an intense drought. Governor Jenniffer González said the measure was forced by weather conditions after the island recorded its driest July on record, though officials have also acknowledged long-standing infrastructure problems that cause huge losses of treated water. The move has caused anger and confusion, with residents queuing at tanker trucks and some areas failing to receive water even during their scheduled supply window.

The Carraízo reservoir, which serves seven regions, has been severely depleted, leaving around 180,000 properties subject to rationing; officials say 68% of the island is currently in drought. Puerto Rico's water authority estimates about 65% of the water it produces is lost or unbilled, largely through leaks and ageing pipes, while experts also cite sediment build-up in reservoirs as a contributing factor. Similar rationing was imposed in 2020 and 2015, and González noted the island is also fighting more than 1,000 wildfires, with rain unlikely until Saharan dust clears the region; no end date for the current measures has been given.