Drought in St. Vincent and the Grenadines forces authorities to ration water supply

Certain sections of St. Vincent and the Grenadines are facing water problems brought on by a drought, forcing authorities to ration the supply, as the Caribbean nation faces a particularly harsh dry season.

The drought has strained water reserves to such an extent that the Central Water and Sewerage Authority (CWSA) had to issue a dry weather warning. The authority has also asked customers fed by the Montreal Water Supply System to bear with the increase in rationing of the water supply.

Areas which were already on rationing schedules have now been subjected to twice a week rationing, while a new community has also been added to the pre-existing schedule. The water rationing schedule went into effect on the 9th of April and will remain applicable till the situation at the source of the supply improves to a reasonable degree.

In the following areas, rationing is in effect from 8 pm to 5 am, as well as 10 am to 2pm:

1. Pomsette

2. Chile

3. Top Victoria Village

4. Akers

5. Calder Ridge

6. South Wood

7. Glamorgan

8. Enhams

9. Top Carapan

10. Richland Park

11. Hopewell

12. Simon

13. Mespo

14. Glenside

15. Freeland

16. Caruth

17. Montaque

18. Mt Pleasant

19. Carierre

20. Collins

21. Evesham

22. La Croix

23. Ginger Village

24. Belmont

Similarly, the supply to the Diamond Estate area will be rationed from 9 pm to 5 am.

According to the Central Water and Sewerage Authority’s Water Management Alert System, the Montreal Water Supply System has been deemed to be at code orange and has been placed on watch. This basically means that the Montreal Water Supply System’s supply is under threat and customers have been asked to conserve water diligently, while also employing water storage measures to help alleviate the stress on them as well as the water supply.

Residents in other areas have been asked to conserve water as well, despite a regular supply, as it helps the authorities manage the situation better.

The Central Water and Sewerage Authority has also informed people that the water supply might be disrupted before or after the timings provided to them, depending on the river’s water levels as well as sudden alterations in demand.