The issue of water conservation has been brought to the fore and at no better time than World Water Day held earlier this week.
Dominicans are being encouraged to help conserve water by the Dominica Water and Sewerage Company (DOWASCO), the Forestry Division and the Dominica Manufacturers Association.
These bodies were represented at a panel discussion at GIS Studios.
The United Nations declared March 22nd as World Water Day. One of the aims of that day is to draw attention to water management.
Although Dominica boasts 365 rivers and an abundance of water, the panelists say a more active role in conserving and preserving of the resource is required.
According to Forestry Officer, Ronald Charles, “20 percent of Dominica is legally protected as either forest reserves or national parks and they are protected for a number of reasons; water production inclusive.”
“Within that framework, we have the Forestry Division operating. We have been out in the forests in various districts ensuring that the forests are not unduly tampered with. We have had a tremendous amount of success. I can say that the people of Dominica have been fairly cooperative with us. In the absence of that, Dominica would be easily deforested,” he stated.
Chief Engineer at DOWASCO, Magnus Williams says quality water is needed for consumption and that is why protecting the water catchment areas is important.
“Our farming practices: use of pesticides and fertilizers in areas of the watershed is discouraged. Also, we try to [collect from] the most pristine parts of the watershed as much as possible so that the raw water starts off at a high quality,” he noted.
A large part of the work of the Dominica Manufacturers Association is agro- processing.
President of the Dominica Manufacturers Association (DMA), Jean Yves Bonaire says although water shortage may not be an immediate threat, Dominicans should put measures in place to preserve water for the long-term sustainability of the resource.
In 1993, the United Nations General Assembly designated 22 March as the first World Water Day. Twenty-two years later, World Water Day is celebrated around the world shining the spotlight on a different issue every year. This issue is also the theme of the annual UN World Water Development Report which is launched on World Water Day.
In 2015, the theme for World Water Day was “Water and Sustainable Development.”
This is the best idea that you have ever thought of,without water there is no life…no animals ,no human beings,no plants and we are in need of all….by the way there are people living close to rivers in dominica ,these people should have proper toilets because after having a poo in a potty or pale ,the river is the final destination for their faeces…that should stop,,,pig pens are placed next to rivers and what ever filth which comes from the pens goes into the river , the owners throw the pigs wastes directly into the river..i was having a long walk from the village of soufriere to fond st.jean ,on my way back i saw a pig pen next to the powel river and the owner was doing exactly what i have pointed above,,..respect the sources of water that we have in dominica so that we can have a better future…
Here is a great video Dice released years ago to Save the Rivers. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nv9bjR7pdw
Hmph.
I’ve always said we Dominicans taking our water for granted.
Just last week it was reported that California only has ONE YEAR left of fresh water in their reservoirs. And we’re talking about approximated 20 million people.
We need to ban flouride from being put in the water
I second the motion because it is not natural. The water that we get from the pipes is filled with chlorine and you can taste that chemical. We need to drink the water that comes from under the ground. That is pure water because it is not contaminated.
PEACE