The territory should prepare for the possibility of a prolonged drought, as advised last week by the Department of Disaster Management.
The current dry spell is the worst the region has seen in at least five years, and it has caused concern throughout the Caribbean. Here, only 3.5 inches of rain fell during the first half of the year, compared to 13.5 inches over the same period last year, according to the DDM, which issued a drought watch last Thursday.
Throughout the territory, the hills are brown and dry, cisterns are empty, farmers are struggling, and some areas — particularly on Virgin Gorda — have been undergoing water lock-offs to give reservoirs time to refill.
Unfortunately, weather experts say the situation is likely to get worse before it gets better.
The DDM has urged the territory to prepare for the worst. To that end, the agency advised the government last week to implement a drought management plan that includes protecting water sources, implementing conservation measures, and repairing infrastructure to minimise leakage. This advice seems sound, and we note that such steps are already being taken in some areas.
We would add that officials should make good use of the water being produced daily by the Biwater desalination plant in Paraquita Bay. After all, the government is currently paying for more water than it is using.
Meanwhile, all residents should do their best to conserve water in their homes and businesses. They should also avoid outdoor burning, which is increasingly likely to cause a major fire in the dry brush along the mountainsides.
Another serious concern is the higher-than-average temperatures that have accompanied the dry spell. This heat is particularly dangerous for children and the elderly, and residents should heed the DDM’s call to help keep such vulnerable groups cool.
The territory should also consider the long term. Forecasters believe that the dry conditions this year are largely a result of El Niño, a warming of the tropical Pacific that affects global weather patterns every few years.
But given the unpredictable effects of global warming, droughts could become increasingly common in the future, and long-term planning may be needed in order to respond properly to them.
As long as people have lived in these islands, water shortages have been a major challenge. As the population grows and weather patterns change, the problem could get much worse.
Besides the obvious ramifications for residents, droughts can have a serious economic impact, especially to the territory’s tourism and farming industries. Preparing now is crucial.
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