Consumers across Saint Lucia are being urged to prepare for tighter water supplies as the island faces a worsening dry spell, with officials warning that declining reserves at the John Compton Dam pose a growing threat to the national water system.
At a press conference on Wednesday, representatives from the Water and Sewerage Company Inc. outlined the challenges confronting the sector, as climate pressures and reduced rainfall continue to strain already limited resources.
Chief Executive Officer of WASCO, Zilta George-Leslie, emphasized that long-term sustainability will depend on a shift in how critical infrastructure is managed, particularly at the island’s main water source.
“What we need to probably recognize as well is that, yes, the dredging exercise took place as a project, but the dredging of the John Compton Dam cannot be a project. It has to be a maintenance regime,” she said.
“So, when we do go back into it, it would be a matter of us having the equipment belonging to us and constantly and consistently dredging of the dam.”
Her comments come as water levels at the dam are reported to be lower than the same period last year, a marginal decline that officials say could have significant consequences if dry conditions persist.
While WASCO has been trucking water to households in affected communities, the company has cautioned that such measures are not sustainable for all users, particularly commercial entities, as resources become increasingly stretched.
Director of the Water Resources Management Agency, Jason Ernest, highlighted the broader environmental and regulatory factors influencing water availability, pointing to the need for closer monitoring of land use and development activities.
“Outside of having the land use policy, we always have to investigate the activities that are taking place and, like I said earlier, do the investigation,” Ernest explained.
“We normally create a multidisciplinary investigative team with other agencies to go out into the field to basically investigate what’s happening.”
He added that coordination between agencies remains critical, particularly when new developments may impact water resources.
“There might be a development, but the Development Control Authority would contact the agency basically to let us know what is the intent or what persons are looking to do.”
Ernest also underscored the operational challenges faced by water sector workers.
“As an agency, we already support WASCO because we understand what WASCO is going through and ourselves that those workers, I mean they go way over and beyond to get things done, but unfortunately persons who are not involved or out in the field do not appreciate or do not see what is happening because it is a very complex process based on our small island state.”
Officials are now encouraging households to increase their water storage capacity and adopt conservation practices as a precautionary measure, warning that continued dry conditions could further reduce supply in the coming weeks.
The situation reflects a broader regional challenge, as small island states like Saint Lucia grapple with the intensifying effects of climate variability on essential resources, placing renewed urgency on sustainable water management and infrastructure resilience.