Puerto Rico water utility coordinator begins urgent review of system failures
Carlos Pesquera, the newly appointed special coordinator for the Puerto Rico Aqueduct & Sewer Authority (PRASA), told News is my Business that his immediate priority is identifying the root causes of recent water service interruptions affecting several municipalities across the island.
“My goal is to figure out what’s happening — what caused the recent breakdowns, whether they could’ve been prevented, and how vulnerable the system is long term,” Pesquera said.
To that end, he plans site visits and interviews over the next month, focusing on key potable water facilities, including the Sergio Cuevas Plant in San Juan, the Los Filtros Plant in Guaynabo, and the facility supplied by the La Plata River. He will also review PRASA’s capital improvement plans, including a major project at Sergio Cuevas.
Pesquera stressed the need for urgency and interagency coordination. “We need to identify the weak points in the system and work quickly to address them,” he said. “This effort should bring together agencies involved in permitting and funding — including [the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)] and the Financial Oversight and Management Board — so that these projects can move forward efficiently.”
He noted that while funding is generally available, “small setbacks” often escalate into major delays. “My goal is to get ahead of those issues.”
Pesquera is working under a 30-day contract for which he is not charging a fee. His final report is due by Aug. 15. He will rely on plant inspections, existing documentation, and interviews with PRASA’s operational, administrative and project management teams.
Joining him is engineer Liliana Maldonado, a water infrastructure expert whom Pesquera described as “extraordinarily capable.” She and other external experts will be compensated.
“We studied engineering together in Mayagüez,” Pesquera said. “She’s deeply involved in water systems and worked on complex projects, including for DC Water in Washington.”
He also plans to consult former PRASA employees with deep institutional knowledge often absent from official documentation. Pesquera submitted his technical and economic proposal to Puerto Rico’s Fiscal Agency and Financial Advisory Authority, the agency managing his hiring.
“I am committed to this effort,” he said, adding that he accepted the role after Gov. Jenniffer González approached him directly. “I couldn’t say no to the governor. It’s a short-term mission that won’t conflict with my other responsibilities.”
His firm, Capital Improvement Program Management, consults on post-disaster reconstruction. He is scheduled to begin field visits next week and met with PRASA’s management and operations staff at La Fortaleza, the governor’s residence and office, on Thursday.
The crisis escalated last week, with nearly 180,000 customers without service at its peak, according to the Associated Press. On Wednesday, about 3,000 residents still lacked potable water, while several hotels also remained without service.
PRASA’s executive president, Luis González, confirmed that the contractor Andújar Construction caused a break in a main water line in Trujillo Alto during roadwork. He also acknowledged communication failures during the emergency.
In response, the governor activated the Puerto Rico National Guard to help with logistics and water distribution and issued Executive Order 44-2025, declaring a state of emergency over PRASA’s infrastructure. The order gives PRASA’s executive president authority to incorporate additional critical facilities or regions needing urgent repair, stabilization or mitigation.
All related projects must be processed with priority status and full interagency support. During the emergency, PRASA and other agencies are exempt from obtaining permits or endorsements normally required — provided that public health and environmental standards are met. The order is effective immediately and remains in force until amended, revoked or the emergency is resolved.
Everything in Puerto Rico is lack of maintenance of all public facilities and services rendered to the public. There is no follow-up. There is a lot of unresponsibility and not accountability to those in charge in administrating the services.
Exactly, we have places in Toa Alta that get repaired every other year. Why aren’t repairs more permanent? Job security? Meanwhile, my wife’s family in Corozal goes for months at a time without service, getting water from a truck. The pumping station goes down when power goes out, I guess the huge generators given to the water company after Maria aren’t being maintained.