Saint Lucia warns of drought risk as reservoir levels remain at record lows

Saint Lucia: The island faces an increased risk of drought as below-average rainfall and high temperatures continue to raise concerns about water availability, with reservoir levels reportedly at an all-time low despite the ongoing wet season.

Director of Meteorological Services Vigil Saltibus issued the warning during a press conference organised by the Water and Sewerage Company (WASCO) on Wednesday, October 7. She said rainfall is forecast to remain low over the next three months, while temperatures are expected to stay high in October.

Continued lack of rainfall could multiply drought concerns. The minister said, ”Drought, which is of great concern to us, still poses a lot of concern as we are now on the back end of our wet season and will be transitioning into dry season soon”.

Similar concerns about the adverse impact of EL Nino were raised in August. She also raised concerns about the reservoir levels, saying that generally the reservoirs get replenished before the dry season. But currently, reservoirs are at an all- time low despite this season being the wet season. Even the recent showers won’t end St. Lucia’s looming fear of drought.

Overall rainfall levels have remained low in recent months. In St. Lucia and the wider Caribbean,June to November is the wet season(which coincides with the Atlantic Hurricane Season). The dry season runs from December to May.

The end of the wet season is approaching and yet the fear of a water crisis looms large. The first half of the Atlantic Hurricane Season runs from June 1 to November 30.

For the rest of the remaining half, we all need to be vigilant. October is usually the month of highly active hurricane activity. The heat season typically begins in April but peaks in September. The increasing heat is definitely going to increase the demand for coolers at homes, buildings and other places.