Island on stricter water ration
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – BEGINNING tonight (Aug. 18), a stricter water rationing regimen will be implemented by the Water Department as it seeks to conserve what little is left of the island’s water resource. And water officials are doubtful that the situation would be remedied anytime soon.
Earlier this week, Acting Manager of the Water Department Denison Paul told SKNVibes that the Basseterre Valley Aquifer, which supplies most of the Basseterre and surrounding areas as well as supplying 40 percent of the island’s potable water, is seriously depleted and measures would have to be taken.
He said some rationing was already taking place in the Basseterre and surrounding areas but, because the situation is as dire as it is, it has become necessary.
Paul told this publication that because pumping of water from the Basseterre Valley Aquifer which “is under stress” and has been reduced to 40 percent, there is need for supplementary potable water to be channeled into the Basseterre area. And because that supplementary source comes from the Wingfield Source, all villages on the western corridor of the island from New Guinea to Basseterre are being affected.
The effect is that the water supply in those areas would be disconnected from 10:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. daily.
A similar effect would be experienced in the St. Peter’s, Cayon and Keys areas because, as Paul explained, the wells that feed those areas are also “under stress” and pumping from them has been reduced.
He stated that on the previous rationing schedule, “we have not seen much improvement in terms of our levels because, as we continue to ration, the situation gets worse. So we have to expand and would eventually have to extend the hours to 6:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m.”.
The Acting Manager analysed that with there not being much rain in the weather forecast, it is unlikely that the Basseterre Valley Aquifer would be replenished and the water shortage situation could extend even into the New Year.
“…We do encourage people to have storage at their homes, storage receptacles, or for businesses or large families, because I am trying to inform people that this problem would not be solved anytime soon. It is going to be going on for months into the New Year, so we have to continuously be vigilant and do the right thing.
“I doubt that we would get enough water/rainfall over the next few months to replenish the Aquifer. And the weather forecast suggests that the present conditions would continue. Even if we get rain for the rest of the year, we would still be in deficit.”
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