Tens of thousands in Puerto Rico woke up without running water on Aug. 7, as authorities impose a mandatory rationing program amid a severe drought and long-standing infrastructure problems.

The rationing program will force many in the capital of San Juan and its surrounding neighborhoods to go without without water for 48 hour intervals, according to Puerto Rico’s Aqueduct and Sewer Authority.

Puerto Rico Governor Jenniffer Gonzalez said at a press conference on Aug. 5 that she does not know how long the rationing will be required.

“This situation is out of our hands,” Gonzalez said in a press release. “It is the result of the climatic conditions that we have been facing and that experts had warned for weeks.”

The rationing comes as the U.S. territory grapples with a stretch of unusually dry and hot weather. July was the driest month on record for San Juan in more than a century, according to the National Weather Service.

Most of the island is suffering from moderate to severe drought conditions as of Aug. 4, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.

Officials say there’s little relief on the way.

Meteorologists expect below-normal rainfall and above-normal temperatures through October, according to an outlook from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Forecasters blame the weather patter on a strengthening El Nino, which is suppressing tropical waves that typically bring heavy rains to the island.

The first phase of service cuts will impact seven municipalities served by the Carraizo reservoir, which officials warn is at critically low levels. Fourteen reservoirs across the territory have recently reported declining water levels, according to the newspaper El Nuevo Día.

Officials said water trucks will deploy across the country, prioritizing hospitals and other essential services.

The territory has faced persistent water and power outages in recent years as a result of crumbling infrastructure. Residents and municipal leaders in Puerto Rico have filed lawsuits against the Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority over chronic water outages.

Contributing: Reuters