Guantanamo. Lexis Ramírez, Provincial Director of Acubitos and Enteridad of Guantánamo, has provided a comprehensive overview of the current water supply challenges facing the province.
Approximately 60% of the province’s water supply is delivered by gravity systems, which is considered an advantage. The remaining 40% relies on electrically powered pumping stations. However, the ongoing energy crisis has severely impacted the operation of these electrical systems. Currently, electricity is available for only 2 to 3 hours daily, preventing consistent water delivery and resulting in irregular supply intervals ranging from alternate days to every 5 or 6 days.
To mitigate the situation, the water authorities coordinate closely with the electric company. In the most affected communities, electricity service is temporarily extended to about 4 hours to allow water pumping operations, aiming to provide adequate water supply despite the energy constraints.
The province is also experiencing significant drought conditions, particularly severe in the municipalities of Maisí and Imías. Imías faces the greatest challenge as its two primary gravity-fed sources Río del Medio and San Ignacio, have been depleted by over 90%. This affects more than 5,000 residents who depend on these sources, which are nearing collapse due to the drought.
In response, efforts are underway to improve water availability in Imías. These include installing a manual pump, rehabilitating approximately 600 meters upstream to increase water retention and gravity flow, and deploying an electro-pump to extract water from local wells for filling water trucks. Additionally, repair work on technological pumping foundations is being addressed, although some require motor rewinding and remain pending at national workshops.
Water delivery via tanker trucks is also hampered by the energy shortage. In Guantánamo city, water supply depends on two main systems: the Fautino Pérez system (serving the northern and central parts) and the Guanta derivation system (serving the southern part). T
he southern areas are more affected, primarily due to blockages in the main canal caused by algae accumulation. Periodic cleaning, essential for maintaining water flow, has been delayed from biweekly intervals to every three months because of insufficient fuel availability. Current cleaning efforts are underway to address this issue.
Additionally, the province faces critical sanitation challenges, with nearly 400 septic pits pending maintenance, including over 100 requiring urgent attention and more than 50 obstructions. All sanitation works are heavily dependent on fuel, which remains in short supply despite having the necessary equipment ready for use.
The combined effects of the energy crisis and severe drought have created a complex and critical situation for water supply and sanitation in Guantánamo province. Authorities continue to implement coordinated measures and technical interventions to alleviate shortages and maintain essential services under these difficult conditions.
