Para establecer la “Ley para el Riego de Áreas Verdes No Agrícolas con Aguas Tratadas o de Lluvia en Casos de Emergencia”, a los fines de requerir que, en casos de emergencia así decretadas por el gobernador de Puerto Rico o el presidente de los Estados Unidos de América, el riego de áreas verdes no agrícolas se lleve a cabo con aguas tratadas o de lluvia; ordenar el diseño de un plan conjunto para eliminar los sistemas de riego de áreas verdes no agrícolas con agua potable proveniente del Gobierno del Estado Libre Asociado; establecer períodos de cumplimiento sobre estos mandatos, ordenar su reglamentación por parte de las agencias reguladoras; y para otros fines relacionados.

Legislative bill overview

Bill PS 633 mandates that during emergency declarations by Puerto Rico's governor or the U.S. president, irrigation of non-agricultural green spaces must use treated wastewater or rainwater instead of potable water. The bill requires designing a joint plan to eliminate potable water irrigation systems for these areas and establishes compliance timelines and regulatory oversight.

Why is this important

Puerto Rico faces chronic water scarcity and infrastructure challenges, making potable water conservation critical for public health and municipal budgeting. Redirecting potable water away from landscape irrigation could preserve supplies for essential household and emergency needs, particularly during drought conditions or natural disasters.

Potential points of contention

• Implementation costs: Installing treated water or rainwater collection systems for existing green spaces requires significant capital investment that municipalities may lack
• Water quality standards: Using treated wastewater for irrigation raises public health and environmental concerns requiring robust regulatory oversight and monitoring
• Scope ambiguity: "Non-agricultural green spaces" definition may be unclear, creating implementation disputes between government agencies and municipalities
• Emergency vs. permanent policy: The bill applies during emergencies but mandates permanent infrastructure changes, raising questions about cost-benefit analysis for permanent systems
• Commission rejection: The responsible commission recommended against approval (October 2025), suggesting substantive legislative concerns remain unresolved