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On Tuesday, Governor Pedro Pierluisi Urrutia officially opened the Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority’s (PRASA) Central Laboratory in Caguas, which had been devastated by Hurricane Maria in 2017.
Among those present at the ceremonial ribbon cutting were PRASA Executive President Doriel Pagán Crespo; Executive Director of the Central Office for Recovery, Reconstruction and Resilience Manuel Laboy Rivera; and Deputy Federal Coordinator for Disaster Recovery at FEMA, Andrés García Martinó.
The laboratory is crucial for testing the quality of the island’s water, which has made news due to elevated metal levels.
“Today, we are making significant strides toward ensuring the safety and quality of our drinking water services across Puerto Rico. Maintenance and repair of our water systems is essential for upholding water quality standards and the vital services we deliver to our residents,” stated the governor. “This laboratory is indispensable as it ensures adherence to state and federal regulations and standards regarding our water quality in Puerto Rico. It is the only certified laboratory in the Caribbean by the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Health for conducting critical water quality tests.”
The governor emphasized that the new laboratory is more than just a facility; it serves as a cutting-edge installation that sets a benchmark for monitoring the quality and safety of the island’s water systems. This initiative represents a total investment of $37.3 million, with $33.6 million funded by FEMA and the remaining amount sourced from the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery Program.
“Indeed, today marks a significant milestone for PRASA; this achievement is the result of dedicated teamwork that brought our new laboratory to fruition,” remarked Pagán Crespo. “Following Hurricane Maria, our laboratory was obliterated; our dedication to our clients compelled us to seek alternative temporary space to continue providing our services. This new building stands as the largest structure in the Caribbean for such operations. We process over 120,000 samples annually for analysis and validation to meet regulations and quality standards. We are the sole certified laboratory in the Caribbean capable of performing the Cryptosporidium/Giardia analysis, meeting one of the EPA’s requirements.”
FEMA’s García Martinó stated, “Our agency’s staff put in tremendous effort to push this project forward.”
“The agency’s funding covered infrastructure work and assisted in replacing technical equipment, enabling us to increase the volume of tests conducted,” he noted. “The greatest satisfaction comes from knowing that these facilities will enhance the health of such a vital resource as water for residents throughout the island.”
