Puerto Rico Chamber of Commerce Calls on PRASA and DNER for Urgent, Coordinated Action Amid Drought Crisis and Water Service Disruptions

San Juan, Puerto Rico, August 10, 2026 — In response to the operational and economic impact that the severe drought and instability in the water supply are having on businesses, industries, and small and medium-sized enterprises across the Island, the Puerto Rico Chamber of Commerce (PRCC) sent formal communications to the heads of two government agencies requesting concrete measures, interagency coordination, and active private-sector participation in addressing the crisis.

The letters were addressed to Eng. Luis R. González Delgado, Executive President of the Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority (PRASA), and Eng. Waldemar Quiles, Secretary of the Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources (DNER) and Chairman of the Puerto Rico Drought Committee. In both communications, the PRCC warned that the situation cannot be addressed solely as a temporary emergency, but rather as a structural challenge requiring transparency, measurable indicators, planning, and a formal voice for the business sector in the decision-making process.

In its letter to PRASA, the Chamber requested a public and measurable action plan with clearly identified responsible parties to address water service continuity, particularly in commercial areas affected by service interruptions, system failures, and rationing. The request includes billing credits during the rationing period; a commitment not to impose billing adjustments as a result of the current situation; a comprehensive assessment of the Superaqueduct; a plan to reduce non-revenue water; special protocols for commercial areas; a public service-continuity dashboard; and a detailed report on funding and projects related to water infrastructure. The PRCC also requested a working meeting with PRASA’s Infrastructure, Operations, and Finance team, as well as a written response to each of the requests presented. The organization emphasized that service interruptions result in significant losses for businesses, undermine investor confidence, and threaten the stability of sectors that depend on a reliable water supply to operate.

In its communication to DNER, the Chamber acknowledged the reactivation of the Puerto Rico Drought Committee and the intention to update the 2018 Puerto Rico Drought Management Protocol. However, it requested that the updated Protocol formally incorporate the PRCC as a representative of the private sector within its committee structure, either on the Action and Response Committee or the Communications Committee, to ensure that drought-related decisions take into account their actual impact on commerce, industry, manufacturing, tourism, commercial agriculture, and services.

The Chamber also requested a meeting with Secretary Quiles or with DNER technical personnel responsible for reviewing the Protocol to learn more about the timeline and update process. The PRCC made its network of members and industry associations available to serve as a liaison with the private sector in disseminating alerts, drought phases, and conservation measures, in coordination with the Communications Committee.

“Puerto Rico needs an agile, transparent, and coordinated response to a water crisis that is already affecting the daily operations of thousands of businesses,” said Puerto Rico Chamber of Commerce President Che Julio Aparicio. “Our call is to transform this emergency into a measurable plan with clear responsibilities and verifiable results. The private sector cannot be a spectator; it must be part of the conversation and the solutions that ensure continuity, competitiveness, and confidence in Puerto Rico. That same vision must extend to the tax system by advancing meaningful reform that eases the burden on individuals and corporations, reduces taxes to 4%, and responsibly addresses the impact of the Sales and Use Tax (SUT), including the need to review its current structure to strengthen consumption, investment, and economic activity,” Aparicio added.

The Chamber stated that the current crisis underscores the need to strengthen planning, modernize critical infrastructure, improve public communications, and anticipate the economic effects of each stage of drought. It also reiterated its willingness to collaborate with PRASA, DNER, and the Puerto Rico Drought Committee by contributing data, operational perspectives, and its capacity to serve as a liaison with the Island’s productive sectors.

Through these efforts, the PRCC reaffirmed its commitment to protecting business continuity and promoting responsible solutions to a challenge that directly affects Puerto Rico’s economy, employment, and quality of life.

Media Contact:

Karen Garnik, APR, Fellow PRSA
787.502.2424, karen@globalvisioncomms.com

Isadora Hernández
787.310.3807, isadora@globavisioncomms.com

Brenda Vázquez
787.392.6868, brenda@globavisioncomms.com