What years covering Puerto Rico reveal about why the taps keep running dry

NPR | By Gabriel J. Sánchez,

Adam Raney, Joel Rose, Adrian Florido

Published August 29, 2026 at 5:14 PM EDT

Puerto Rico's drought is only part of the reason residents are losing water. NPR's Adrian Florido explains what years of reporting on the island have taught him.

Gabriel J. Sánchez

Gabriel J. Sánchez is a producer for NPR's All Things Considered.

Adam Raney

Joel Rose

Joel Rose is a correspondent on NPR's National Desk. As the network’s transportation correspondent since 2023, Rose’s reporting focuses on roadway and pedestrian safety, an air travel system under stress and how emerging technologies are changing the ways we get around.

See stories by Joel Rose

Adrian Florido

Adrian Florido is a national correspondent for NPR covering race and identity in America.

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