The socialists in Alcalá de Henares have intensified their criticism against Mayor Judith Piquet, accusing her of “incompetence” in managing the recent water crisis. In a statement released this Wednesday, the PSOE highlights a clear lack of political direction and, crucially, an absence of transparent information for citizens during a critical period.
Socialist ranks acknowledge that the breakdown in the general network in Yunquera de Henares, which impacted 44 municipalities, is a foreseeable technical incident. However, they emphasize that the real issue lies in the poor political management of the situation. They point out that the mayor herself also presides over the Mancomunidad de Aguas del Sorbe, which, in their view, increases her direct responsibility in coordinating the response.
While thousands of residents suffered cuts and pressure problems in their homes over the past 24 hours, the mayor has been more concerned with her image than with fulfilling her responsibilities.
The PSOE insists that Alcalá de Henares, due to its position within the supply network, was one of the municipalities most exposed to the consequences of the failure. This, according to the socialists, required anticipation with effective measures and constant communication with the population, which, they claim, did not happen. They criticize an “information blackout” by the City Council, noting that many citizens started the day without knowing when the supply would be restored or receiving clear updates on the incident's progress.
In this context, the socialists believe that the measures adopted so far have been clearly insufficient. Among their main demands, they call for an urgent reinforcement of resources to assist the population, with special attention to the elderly, vulnerable individuals, or those with reduced mobility. They propose that Civil Protection deliver water directly to the homes of these groups and that distribution points be increased, considering that one tanker per district board is insufficient for the scale of the problem.
They also criticize the scenes witnessed in various parts of the city, with residents queuing to fill jerrycans at public fountains, an image they describe as “more typical of the 18th century” than of a city like Alcalá de Henares in 2026. Therefore, the PSOE of Alcalá demands that the Government team take responsibility, immediately improve communication with citizens, and ensure more effective management in emergency situations, providing “clear, truthful, and continuously updated information”.
