The Dominica Water and Sewerage Company (DOWASCO) is urging immediate water conservation efforts in the face of a possible worsening dry season.
Head of Communications and Customer Service at DOWASCO Gwennie Dickson says water levels at intakes in Dominica have decreased as a result of the dry spell, and the situation could become worse.
“We are hoping that it will not, but based on what we are hearing from for example the Met Institute in Barbados, they are forecasting that we will experience this severe dryness for some time to come, so if that really continues as they forecast, it means the water levels will definitely get much lower.”
According to Dickson, lower water levels will lessen the amount of water available to communities around the island.
“If it does get to the point where the water levels get so low that we are unable to get the pressure that is needed, it means that yes we probably would have to go the way of water rationing, but as of now, we are not in that situation.”
Old saying: you never miss the water till the well run dry is typical nature in dominica. We never appreciate and take care of what we have until it is ready to go away.
We need to be proactive instead of reactive. The dry conditions in the caribbean is as a result of global climate changes that may be temporary. If it is then the rivers will get back to capacity once the rains come. We may need to watch out for flash floods and landslides, so hopefully the disaster preparedness community is paying attention to that.
However, rivers do not just dry up overnight unless it has some extreme event. The rivers in Dominica have been decreasing in volume for decades and no responsible body paid attention. I remember people jumping off the bridge in the blehnim river in the north to take a swim. Now its down to creek size. Now that we have a drought the rivers capacity cannot be maintained. Conservation has to be long term not just a spurr of the moment.
I could suggest what we can do but it would fall on deaf ears and may need more than this forum.
This is what I been saying everytime I hear about government signing off to export our precious water resources. Whatever the cause…climate change, el nino, whatever…DA needs to save its water for Dominicans…the government fou if they still going and sell our water. If we shipping water anywhere it should be Haiti but even then we need to do everyting we can to help our ppl first.
lets not take the fact that we have 365 rivers for granted. we need to conserve. If there isnt enough rain falling and we are cutting down trees in the wrong places etc, then we know at some point water will come up short,
So while we are boasting of the 365, lest give thanks to God for them and also pray that he sends rain. Lets pray fro St.Lucia also
Well Dominica is in the next level right now. Chinese get contract to bottle and export our water direct from Dowasco and Dowasco thinking of rashioning water to us. All you really take Dominica to the next level. Dominicans start to replant the trees that were cut.
And Sisserou can export a billion gallons of water a year Mr. PM, according to a contract you gave them?
Something doesn’t add up right.
There needs to be some reservoirs built.
DOM has plenty of water if it is utilized efficiently and correctly.
dowasco needs the water so they can sell it to antigua and st.lucia at a higher price wake up people.
hahahhahhahahahahha. u guys are killimg me here. dominica has 365 so called rivers and nw u guys are saying that we are heading to drought………………..lololololololololololol. the drains are always filled with water…….lol
None sense. Lack of knowledge, will , skills and determination is the problem here. Even maybe wastage and corruption. I do not need 365 rivers..not that I believe we do have that but…There are enough rivers in close proximity to all inhabited areas in DOminica to provide more than sufficent water for those neighboring communities. Skerit put our engineers and young men to work to harness our few/only gifts.
Also tell me something. Are the damns being filled up from the river/s? If So, how can water levels fall that drastically? Isn’t the river constantly replenishing the damns? Ok in the day you may have a higher out put that in take, but what about when we all go to sleep?
Think about it and tell me if the problem is really the dry season.
HMMM~~ a land of 365 rivers , wat ashame D/ca
There needs to be investment in small dams around the island at different elevations to capture and store enough water for all year round. What have DOWASCO been doing all these years?
let’s be a little realistic here… when was the last time the so called “365 rivers” were checked in
dominica….and what is really considered a river in international standard?..because from my own
observation we’ve been living by and repating that phrase for too long…and we all really know that
dominica ain’t got no 365 rivers….so i think we should stop boasting and selling that thought to the
world and preserver, conserve and protect the maybe 100 real rivers we have left.
We should not be exporting water no where, natural resources are diminishing all over the world. Dominica need to try its best to conserve what it has, because you never know. Look at the present situation now, if we do not get rain soon we might be in problems for water.
Dominicans take note.Our 365 rivers areatrisk and its not becaus43 of what Skerrit did or did not do. Nature has its way of taking care of its own
I said recently, as the old folks would say, ” When your neighbour house on fire wet yours”. I heard everyone talking about how dominica is can make money by exporting water to St.Lucia. Lets hope that dawasco is not calling wolf, wolf..
So allu gonna start exporting water and allu doh even have enough when a little rain doh fall.
I hope allu open allu eyes now cause this may be an advance warning.