The water situation in Trinidad, municipality of Sancti Spíritus, has reached a critical point. Since 2020, more than 4,000 residents suffer from a lack of water supply, a problem aggravated by the Cuban government’s debts to foreign creditors and constant blackouts that further deteriorate hydraulic infrastructure.
The water system rehabilitation project in Trinidad began with a $25 million loan granted by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), but everything came to a halt at the end of 2019 when Cuba stopped making payments, he says. 14ymedio. Fredesman Jiménez Bravo, delegate of Hydraulic Resources in Sancti Spíritus, explained that, after the non-payments, OPEC closed its operations with Cuba, putting the vital project on hold.
Blackouts are another factor that exacerbates the problem. Sudden changes in water pressure due to electrical interruptions have caused constant pipe breaks. However, local authorities assure that it is not the pipes that fail, but rather the joints that fail to contain the water under these extreme conditions.
Jiménez Bravo highlighted that attempts have been made to renegotiate the debt with OPEC, but it has not been possible so far. Although the Cuban government has reached agreements with other funds such as the Kuwait Development Fund, OPEC credit remains an insurmountable obstacle. “What we do today in Trinidad is with the national budget, the same money that Cuba needs to buy basic foods or generate electricity,” added the official, highlighting that the hydraulic works are taking forever due to other priorities of the State.
As a result, many Trinidadians have had to resort to desperate solutions, such as storing rainwater or purchasing water pipes at exorbitant prices. A water pipe costs more than 3,000 pesos, a figure that exceeds the minimum wage of many Cubans.
In addition to Trinidad, other municipalities in the province such as Jatibonico and Cabaiguán also face similar problems, where water treatment works and the installation of pipelines have been suspended due to lack of resources. Faced with this reality, the authorities insist on the need to change the country’s energy matrix so that the water supply depends less on an electrical network that can barely stay in operation.
The water crisis in Cuba is just one more reflection of the severe economic situation that the country is going through, where non-payments, blackouts and lack of investment aggravate the living conditions of thousands of citizens.
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