Water levels across Barbados are lower than last year, but not yet at a critical point that would require restrictions, the Barbados Water Authority (BWA) has said, as the island heads into the dry season.
“We’re not getting the rainfall that we would hope to have at this time in the rainy season. So going into the dry season, our cup is not being filled as we would like right now, and we are asking the public to conserve,” hydrogeologist Jaime Paul said during a press conference on Saturday.
Paul emphasised that while rainfall has been below expectations, the situation does not yet necessitate a water prohibition like the one imposed in 2023.
“If it is that we will have to do that, that’s something we would be reviewing on a monthly basis. We send our recommendations to the board and the minister, and they would sit and decide, make that decision, and then that would be said to the public,” she said.
The hydrogeologist urged residents to continue conserving water. “Keep in mind we are a water-scarce country. This is not the time for you to decide, ‘I’m going to go wash down my entire yard with my hose’. Continue to employ your water-saving practices. Continue to install water-saving devices as much as possible where you can.”
Paul also highlighted the importance of monitoring coastal wells, which are connected to the sea and can indicate more serious problems through rising salinity.
“When we see that rise in salinity, we know that we are in severe trouble. That can indicate severe trouble and intense reduced availability of water,” she said.
The BWA is urging the public to store water prudently during the remainder of the hurricane season and to continue water-saving practices to prepare for the dry months ahead.
In 2023, Barbados faced a water prohibition due to critically low levels in several reservoirs and wells. Residents were restricted in how and when they could use water for non-essential purposes such as washing vehicles, gardens, and patios. The prohibition was a measure to safeguard supply, particularly for domestic and essential use, during one of the driest periods in recent years.
BWA project manager, Shelley Parris, noted ongoing efforts to promote conservation across the island.
“We have a water conservation initiative that we are pressing. We have been doing this initiative with the schools for a very long time using personnel such as Miss Paul to educate the children on water and water conservation practices, and as such, we have plans to expand that in a big way to the wider public,” she said. (SZB)
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