BASSETERRE – Members of the Water Services Department (WSD) made their way around St Kitts on Friday tooting vehicle horns and promoting awareness for the sustainable use of water in what was dubbed a “Watercade.”
The event, which climaxed activities for the extended commemoration of World Water Day on March 07 in St Kitts and Nevis, saw the motorcade stopping in various communities while personnel interacted with residents.
WSD’s Acting Manager/Water Engineer T. Dennison Paul said: “We are experiencing an extended drought, a drought now for about 36 months where we’ve had record low rainfall,” he said, adding that the last time it was this low was 100 years ago.
Because of the low levels of potable water, officials were forced to implement measures to protect the abuse of the natural resource, including a rationing schedule.
“So we are now coming to the general public, using this mode to … touch every community and encourage them to conserve water,” Paul stated, describing the situation as “critical”.
Tips shared with the residents engaged along the way included taking shorter showers, turning off the tap or using a glass of water while brushing their teeth, and eliminating smaller load washing via machine, opting for larger loads. This option, he said, will also reduce the total of the electricity bill.
Paul warned that if the levels remained low, the WSD may be forced to extend the water rationing schedule to include the daytime.
“That is why we are encouraging you to conserve water. It is important that you hear this message and act on it,” he said. (SKNIS)
