Havana, Cuba.-Although the situation with water in Cuba has slightly improved so far in July, the drought continues, a source of the sector reported today.

Argelio Fernandez, senior expert to the Hydrological Service and Availability of the National Institute of Water Resources (INRH), specified that the volume of accumulated water increased in 88 million cubic meters in that period, compared to the end of June.

According to Fernandez, the national accumulated volume of water in July is 85.2 millimeters (mm), 63 percent of the historic average figure, which is 134.6 mm.

The best situation this month was recorded in the western area, with an accumulated volume of 107.7 mm. In the central and eastern provinces, the figures reported were 88.2 mm and 62.7 mm, respectively.

Regarding the dams, there are 142 at 50 percent of their capacity, 87 have reported 25 percent, while 23 are totally dry.

The expert said that of the 100 main underground basins, 61 were increasing their volume of water from rains and that the remaining 39 were on the decreasing level.

Regarding the hydrological drought rate in July, he explained that 128 municipalities were affected by the phenomenon, while 31 were reported with moderate drought, 39 with severe drought and 58 with extreme drought.

Presenting statistics of the rain that has fallen since May up to this date, he said the national accumulated water volume was 379.3 mm or 85 percent of the historic average figure (448.9 mm).

The western area is the only area that has recorded a volume exceeding the latter figure, with 503.1 mm or 103 percent. The behavior in the central area is 351.0 mm and the eastern area has accumulated 304.6 mm.