BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THE Water Department has advised that the Basseterre and surrounding areas would against be subject to water rationing owing to the below-average status of the water levels at the Basseterre Aquifer.
Contacted for a comment, Water Services Manager Dennison Paul said rationing began yesterday (Jan. 26) from 10:00p.m. to 5:00a.m. daily and that the affected areas are Basseterre, the South East Peninsula, Frigate Bay, Bird Rock and Half Moon Bay.
He said other areas are “doing ok” for the time being.
Despite the rationing, Paul noted that the water is not at any particular level but “from our surface levels it is still at historic lows in terms of their flows”, thus resulting in the position taken by his Department.
Further, he said that since rationing measures were previously taken, the aquifers are in a recovery state, however, though he noted that they are still not in that position to provide 24 hours service to residents of the Basseterre area that feeds off of it.
Minister with responsibility for the sector the Hon. Ian Liburd, told a gathering on Tuesday (Jan. 24) evening at the Joshua Obadiah Primary School, that this has become necessary because had been recording below-average rainfall for 2016, although it was an improvement over the 2015 record.
“…We had an increase in rainfall during 2016 that amounted to some 35 inches of rainfall compared to 2015 of 25 inches. And we are still below the average of some 55 inches,” Liburd said.
The country, for major portions of 2016, was placed on a strict water-rationing schedule after being hit by drought-like conditions in 2015. This saw the Federation’s water reserve reaching critically low levels.
Minister Liburd said the period of August – December 2016 was the most-rainy period of the year, yet enough rainfall was not produced to supplement the critical water levels during the drought-like period.
“This, I am advised is not adequate to compensate the rainfall deficit in 2015/2016. And our flows from surface sources are beginning to drop as we begin to approach the 2017 dry season.”
Alternatively, he noted that the government is still exploring the drilling of wells north of the R. L. B. International Airport, “and we do believe that before the end of this year we will get some 900,000 gallons and more to augment the source in Basseterre”.
The Minister reminded that there is still need for the Federation to practice water conservation.
During their initial rationing phase, the Water Services Department began the rationing schedule with the Basseterre area, before that was stretched to the outlying areas.
The Water Department had implemented a ban on persons watering plants and washing vehicles and building. Some standpipes along the streets were also closed off while residents were urged to store water in containers for person use.
Meanwhile, Paul noted that rainfall levels are expected to return to normal within the coming months.
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