The Water and Sewerage Company (WASCO) held a press conference this week with a nation waiting for some good news as it relates to the current water situation in St. Lucia. However, WASCO reiterated much of what has been said before and exactly what the country was thinking, that the local water problem, even with some rainfall, had not gotten better.
Questioned about the much talked about importation of water from neighbouring Dominica, WASCO clarified that while plans have been set in motion there was no definitive decision concerning water importation because the island is not at a critical stage yet. The St. Lucia Hotel and Tourism Association (SLHTA) has spearheaded an initiative, along with other industry partners, to explore the importation of water for that sector.
WASCO officials explained that while there seems to have been steady rainfall over the past few weeks, it does not immediately translate to water in the tank.
One of the main issues contributing to the possible water crisis, outside of lack of consistent rainfall, is the diminished capacity at The John Compton Dam. Recent storms reportedly dumped enough silt to half the capacity of the facility which was originally built to hold approximately 3,000,000 cubic meters.
The government and WASCO have embarked on a number of remedial and upgrade projects which are expected to improve the flow of water to households in the near future particularly in the north of the island including a much-needed upgrade to the waterline between the Bonne Terre and Gros Islet gaps. The water company revealed that a recent waterline fix has aided considerably to their operations, adding approximately 8,000,000 gallons a day to their distribution process.
WASCO, like Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre, has made a desperate call for St. Lucians to seriously adopt a water harvesting policy. The company, like the prime minister, believe this initiative will significantly assist the island’s water woes. WASCO revealed that plans are afoot to engage in assistance with securing water tanks to aid residents.