Water is a precious resource, needed in everyday life and business operations. However, every year the dry season presents a problem as drier conditions, Sahara dust and high heat affect water levels and rain, thereby limiting water supply.

For many businesses this presents a problem, as cooling systems, beverages and even as a main input in services such as car washes, must grapple with lower water levels.

It also presents a problem for the Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA), which is tasked with supplying the entire nation with sufficient water for crucial everyday use.

This year, high temperatures, massive bouts of Sahara dust and reduced rain have produced a harsh dry season, with the Met Office warning in January of a drier-than-usual first half of the dry season.

With two months left in the dry season, both the public and private sectors have had to come up with interesting ways to manage water usage so that their businesses and the nation as a whole would not be left high and dry.

The hose ban

Each year, WASA imposes restrictions to conserve water during the dry season. This year’s conditions, in no small part attributed to climate change, have made it more necessary for WASA to manage the nation’s water usage.

Daniel Plenty, WASA communications manager, told Business Day the high heat and low rainfall have had a significant effect on water levels, causing WASA to readjust its water schedule for several places, especially in high areas and areas a great distance away from pumping stations.

The authority’s total daily water-production capacity is approximately 243 imperial million gallons per day.

“In keeping with the forecast from the Met Office in relation to the early part of the dry season being particularly dry, that part really did pan out,” he said. “Everyone could attest to that, because we all live here, and the dry season has been particularly dry.”

He said the heat has impacted areas such as water treatment, because the dry conditions and lack of rain meant there was not enough water to keep rivers and reservoirs full. As a result WASA had to adjust the water schedules multiple times during the dry season.

Last Thursday WASA said in a media release that parts of TT would have water supply schedules adjusted once again, amid even lower water levels.

Parts of northeast Trinidad served by the North Oropouche Water Treatment plant saw a reduction in production from 20 million gallons a day (mgd) to 17 mgd

Areas in the southeast and central Trinidad served by the Navet Water Treatment Plant will also be affected by reduced production, from 19 mgd to 16 mgd.

Tobago, served by the Courland, Richmond, Kings Bay and Hillsborough West water treatment plants, will see production reduced from 4.6 mgd to 2.7 mgd.

“The heat, resultant dryness and lack of rainfall throughout the 2024 dry season has caused an average daily loss of production of approximately 25 million mgd,” WASA said. “This represents approximately ten per cent of the authority’s total daily production.”

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