BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, Jul. 12. 2018 – OFFICIALS at the Water Department on St. Kitts are keeping a close watch on weather conditions, as they continue to ration water in several sections on the island.
The monitoring is being carried out as forecasters suggest an extended spell of dry conditions over the federation that has affected St. Kitts and Nevis since the beginning of the year.
Manager at the Water Services Department, Dennison Paul confirmed to SKNVibes News today that the federation is likely to see drought-like conditions over the next several months, as period of El Nino conditions are expected over the islands.
That will result in the Department rationing water in several sections of the island, with the possibility of it being extended to all areas.
“Water levels are still critical,” Paul said. “One of the reasons is because, for this year, it is as if we are returning to drought. We have had much lower than usual rainfall so far this year than we would have had. Last year we would have had double the amount.”
Currently water is being rationed in the areas of Basseterre, St. Peter’s, the South East Peninsula, Cayon and Keys.
According to Paul, that system was implemented back in February but it continued owing to the conditions.
Earlier this year, water officials were expecting the rainy season to alleviate the dry spell in order to ease the rationing beginning in May; however, that is not the case and they are restricting on weekdays.
Residents in the affected areas will have an ease on weekends and would have seen relief during the Music Festival week, Paul told this media house.
It was disclosed that the levels of rainfall St. Kitts and Nevis received so far in 2018, is half the usual amount for this time of the year.
“The forecast was always for rain to come even at the beginning of the year. The latest forecast is now saying that we might return into El Nino – which means little chance of hurricane but very little chance of rainfall,” explained Paul.
“Rainfall is significantly reduced during El Nino period. And the forecast is that we are trending towards El Nino.’
St. Kitts and Nevis has over the last several years been under severe drought-like conditions. That resulted in water levels running to critical levels and lengthy periods of restrictions.
The Government back in 2016 implemented several restrictions for citizens and residents in order to minimize water wastage.
Paul is calling on residents to conserve water at this time.
