Darren Soto
08/13/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 08/13/2026 12:26
Soto Leads Letter Urging the EPA to Address Puerto Rico's Drinking Water Emergency
Soto Leads Letter Urging the EPA to Address Puerto Rico's Drinking Water Emergency
August 13, 2026
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Congressman Darren Soto (FL-09) led aletter to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin urging the EPA to address the urgent drinking water emergency affecting Puerto Rico.
"In early June, the Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority (PRASA) detected a rupture in a 72-inch Superaqueduct transmission line. Despite repairs to this fracture, outdated infrastructure continues to cause significant interruptions in water service, leaving roughly 3 million residents with inconsistent access to drinking water," wrote the Members. "This crisis is further intensified by a worsening drought, with the U.S. Drought Monitor designating more than half of the island as experiencing moderate to extreme drought conditions. As a result, hundreds of thousands of residents are forced to ration their water supply and go as long as two days without running water."
"The island's water system has carried the weight of an aging infrastructure for decades. Experts estimate that 60 percent of the island's water supply is lost due to leaks in aging infrastructure…" continued the Members. "Since this crisis began, residents have been forced to buy potable water, spend money at laundromats, and haul heavy buckets up several flights of stairs to wash dishes, flush toilets, and take showers. The strain falls hardest on those least able to bear it: lower-income households, older adults, and people with disabilities, with community leaders noting that some have been hospitalized as the water shortages persist..."
In addition to Rep. Soto, the letter was signed by Puerto Rico Resident Commissioner Pablo José Hernández and Reps. Nydia Velázquez (NY-07), Nanette Barragán (CA-44), Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), Maxwell Alejandro Frost (FL-10), Jimmy Gomez (CA-34), Analilia Mejia (NJ-11), Rob Menendez (NJ-08), Nellie Pou (NJ-09), Delia Ramirez (IL-03), and Ritchie Torres (NY-15).
For the full text of the letter, please click here.
Recently, Rep. Soto introduced an amendment to H.R. 9022, the Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2027, in support of the following report language for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands:
"The Committee directs the Department [of Energy] to offer technical and other programmatic assistance to Puerto Rico for the assessment and implementation of innovative technologies to mitigate power plant emissions, treat and reuse wastewater, produce biofuels, and generate power from solid waste.
"In addition, the Committee directs the Department [of Energy] to offer technical and other programmatic assistance to Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands in assessing the feasibility of:
(1) Puerto Rico/U.S. Virgin Islands subsea electric and fiber optic cable interconnection as well as a stronger connection between Puerto Rico and surrounding islands such as Vieques and Culebra;
(2) the potential effectiveness of solar and wind power implementation in the territories; plans for power grid repair, improvement, resiliency, and modernization; and
(3) microgrid innovation."
Rep. Soto also supported an amendment to H.R. 9022 introduced by Rep. Velázquez to direct the U.S. Secretary of the Army to fund an integrated water management plan for Puerto Rico.
Additionally, Rep. Soto co-sponsored H.R. 7397, the Puerto Rico Water Infrastructure Resilience Act, introduced by Resident Commissioner Hernández, to require the U.S. Secretary of the Army to conduct a comprehensive assessment of Puerto Rico's water and wastewater infrastructure modernization needs.
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