HAVANA – Cubans know wastewater management needs improvement, and safe water for drinking and other household uses is limited in some parts of the country.
A neighborhood in Havana has been dealing with water-related public health issues for nearly a decade. Residents just south of the Malecon say that instead of repairs, they were getting patchwork fixes.
In Havana's municipality of Centro Habana, the aging infrastructure is deteriorating. And now that the aging pipes are getting replaced, they are dealing with dangerous holes on the ground.
Near the large holes, there is a sewage backup and there are areas near children that have become breeding ground for mosquitos.
The Cuban government provides the water and is responsible for the maintenance of the pipelines. But the government has to import the materials needed for the repairs and the priority is on tourism.
Along the busy San Lazaro road, the putrid smell makes some people lose their appetite. There are also large excavations, where neighbors say work is being done to replace corroded pipes.
The sewage backup has been going on for about six months, a woman who lives in the neighborhood said. In her house, the sewage backs up to the ground gutters.
She said sometimes they use cardboard, so that they can walk without having to dip their feet in the polluted water.
There is a hole on the sidewalk, where neighbors said some have fallen inside at night. The residents, who are not willing to wait for help from authorities, placed a wooden pole to warn pedestrians.
Local 10 News Andrea Torres contributed to this story from Miami.