The lack of rainfall is again pressing on the archipelago and leaves reservoirs and aquifers at minimum levels in several provinces. The deterioration in storage coincides with sustained urban demand and a rainfall pattern that, in recent months, has been significantly below average.
From HolguÃn to Sancti SpÃritus and Santiago de Cuba, a worrying pattern is repeated: less water available, more days between deliveries and an accelerated effort to maintain maintenance, investments, and operational adjustments to sustain supply while awaiting better rainfall.
Reservoirs at their limit in HolguÃn and the eastern part of the country
In the capital of HolguÃn, the Three major dams have fallen below 50% And the reservoirs that supply more than 80% of the city hold only 23,3 million cubic meters, equivalent to 15,6% of their filling capacity, a level classified as completely depressed.
The tension is also noticeable in daily operations: the northwest system delivers around 1.380 liters per second against an estimated demand of 2.300 liters per second, a gap that forces shifts to be reorganized and support to be reinforced with alternative means.
In communities in Santiago de Cuba, distribution cycles have been stretched. beyond 30 days, a clear symptom of the pressure that scarcity exerts on the supply systems of the east.
Faced with this situation, territorial authorities and directors of the National Institute of Hydraulic Resources have activated Emergency plans: support with tanker trucks, pumping back into alternative wells and network adjustments to prioritize critical points.
As part of this package, the Campo de Tiro pumping station is carrying out tests of three new bombs hydraulics for optimize drive and stabilize service in key areas of the city.
Zaza and other aquatic plants at historic lows
The Zaza Dam, the largest reservoir in the country, barely accumulates around 106,4 million cubic meters, about 12% of its normal capacity, which places it in the second smallest volume in its history.
The lowest reference date is May 1976, when the water level dropped to 99,6 million cubic metersThe contrast with that historical record underscores the severity of the current phase.
In the whole territory of Sancti Spiritus, the reservoirs are around 17% of its usual volume, with especially delicate situations in La Felicidad, Dignorah and Aridanes.
Although the outlook is critical, the deposits intended for population supply —Lebrije (39%), Tuinucú (60%) y Siguaney (63%)— maintain a coverage that would allow the supply to be sustained during more than a year, provided that demand remains within the expected parameters.
Works and operational adjustments to sustain supply
In HolguÃn the comprehensive rehabilitation of pumping stations that feed the municipal capital, one of the areas most affected by the drought. A new pumping station is being built at the CacoyogüÃn dam with a 40% civil progress, while leaks are being corrected, boiler work is being carried out, and structures are being reinforced, with the participation of state entities and MSMEs; the package adds 50 million pesos.
At an additional cost of 60 million pesos, the Gibara dam station is intervened: the floating raft was relocated about seven meters to capture water 1,5 meters from the surface, improving the quality of the liquid than two pumps 220 liters per second are driven towards the water treatment system.
After a technical stop of 72 hours long., the facility is preparing to resume service with greater stability. With these adjustments, CacoyogüÃn could extend its availability to 135 days and Gibara until 150 days, a coverage that improves after the recent rains, which brought 1,4 million cubic meters with 110 millimeters of precipitation.
In the Güirabo reservoir the project was completed driver maintenance and the station's pump will be installed shortly.20 Roses", which will allow water to be transferred from the Cauto River to the dam basin and give a break to the source that supplies more than 45.000 inhabitants of the southern system.
Below-average rainfall and coverage horizon
The deficit is also reflected in the rain gauges: during August, in the area analyzed it rained only 56% of the average of the month, with La Sierpe, Yaguajay, Jatibonico and Cabaiguán among the driest municipalities.
In the cumulative of January to July rainfall reached 52,7% of the historical average, a behavior classified as very dry, falling between 25% and 55% of the average for the stage.
With such scarce contributions, institutions are prioritizing savings, reordering of cycles and specific reinforcements with alternative means, while progress is made on works that provide resilience to the distribution system.
The technical and community response —from the rational use of water up to pumping adjustments—will be decisive to weather this phase, while waiting for the rainfall regime to improve and help recover the reservoir volumes.
With depleted reservoirs, deliveries below demand and works against the clockCuba is deploying contingency plans to sustain urban water supplies, while closely monitoring every millimeter of rain that could alleviate pressure on water systems.
