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Puerto Rico Drinking Water

Jose Luis Rodriguez waited in line Friday to fill plastic jugs in the back of his pickup truck with water for drinking, doing the dishes and bathing.

But there is something about this water Rodriguez didn't know: It was being pumped to him by water authorities from a federally designated hazardous waste site, CNN learned after reviewing Superfund documents and interviewing federal and local officials.

Rodriguez, 66, is so desperate for water that this news didn't startle him.

"I don't have a choice," he said. "This is the only option I have."

More than three weeks after Hurricane Maria ravaged this island, more than 35% of the island's residents -- American citizens -- remain without safe drinking water. Ref. CNN.

Water Drinking Rico Puerto

They are American citizens they deserve better than this I can't believe how long it is taking to get our people something as basic as water!

Puerto Rico Drinking Water Health & Special Psychology

There must be some kind of bias towards the inhabitants of Puerto Rico because Hurricane Maria happened a long time ago and they're still looking for food and water.

Water Drinking Rico Puerto

This is one reason I tell everyone to grab a bottle of bleach if they find themselves preparing for a disaster. That bottle of bleach can save you life so that you can make almost any water safe for you and your family to drink. This way you can go to any stream or any well and get drinking water for you and your family. For cooking purposes too. If you have water and electricity you can always boil water to make it safe for drinking too.

Water Drinking Rico Puerto

A tall chain link fence, shrouded in vines, surrounds an aging water well tucked away in Dorado, a small town just west of San Juan. A metal sign carries a warning in Spanish to anyone who approaches: "Danger. Do Not Enter."

That doesn't stop Juan Carlos Oquendo, 39, from peeling away a corner of the fence and jumping inside. He's brought a van load of containers to fill.

But what he doesn't fully understand is that water from the faucet is potentially contaminated with industrial chemicals that can cause serious health issues.

Oquendo stresses that he's willing to take this chance because access to clean water in his neighborhood has been extremely difficult for much of the last month since Hurricane Maria wiped out Puerto Rico's water system. Source 8c.