BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THE Water Department is working assiduously to rectify problems with the Basseterre Valley Well-field Aquifer, as signs of salt water intrusion have been found.
This announcement was made by Minister with Responsibility for the water sector, Hon. Ian ‘Patches’ Liburd.
In a recent interview with SKNVibes, the Minister explained that they have seen signs of salt water intrusion in the said aquifer and they are now “taking steps to ensure that we don’t lose that aquifer”.
According to Liburd, the Federation is still in a rainfall deficit and is reminding that a 2009 report presented to the then government had urged that if pumping levels continue 24/7 at the area it would be affected by salt intrusion.
This, the Minister noted, is the reason behind the East Basseterre rationing system.
“To lose that aquifer would take 10 to 15 years for its recovery. So, apart from the rainfall deficit, we have taken steps to ensure that this well-field is not contaminated with salt water.”
The Federation has been severely affected by drought-like conditions over the last two years.
That condition has resulted in St. Kitts and Nevis resorting to periods of rationing during the morning and evening hours.
However, despite heavy rainfall, the Federation has not fully recovered from the extensive dry period.
At one point over the last two years, St. Kitts’ water levels were critically low, but those with responsibility for the sector are expecting the problem to be alleviated during the upcoming hurricane season.
The season is expected to bring a large number of hurricanes and tropical storms which would dump large amounts of rainfall on St. Kitts and Nevis and other islands that are facing a similar problem.
