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The Conversation U.S.
Thirsty in paradise: Water crises are a growing problem across the Caribbean islands
By Farah Nibbs, University of Maryland, Baltimore County,
19 days ago
(BALTIMORE) In the popular imagination, the Caribbean is paradise, an exotic place to escape to. But behind the images of balmy beaches and lush hotel grounds lies a crisis, the likes of which its residents have never experienced.
Within the past five years, every island in the region has experienced some sort of water scarcity. For example, Trinidad is experiencing its worst drought in recent memory , and residents are under water restrictions through at least the end of June 2024, with fines for anyone who violates the rules.
I study the intersection of critical infrastructure and disasters , particularly in the Caribbean. Safe water is essential for all human activity and public health. That’s why it is important to understand the root causes of the water crises and to find effective, affordable ways to improve water supply systems.
3 reasons water demand is outstripping supply
Changing precipitation patterns and droughts are straining Caribbean water supplies, but water demand has also been outstripping supply for a number of reasons.
1. Rapid urbanization and industrialization
The Caribbean is one of the most rapidly urbanizing regions in the world. About three-quarters of its population lives in cities , and that percentage is rising, adding pressure on public water systems.
At the same time, increased industrialization and commercialization of agriculture have degraded water quality and in some cases encroached on sensitive water catchment areas, affecting the soil’s capacity to retain water .
Even during water rationing, water is diverted to hotels and other tourist-dependent sites first. That can leave local residents without water for hours or days at a time and facing fines if they violate use restrictions.
The reasons range from lack of appropriate management practices to metering inaccuracies, leaks and theft.
Climate change and extreme weather worsen water insecurity
These troubled water systems can struggle on good days. Worsening extreme weather, such as hurricanes and flooding, can damage infrastructure, leading to long outages and expensive repairs .
Improving water access in the Caribbean means working on all of those challenges. Better governance and investment can help reduce water loss from theft and leaks. Government and social pressure and educating tourists can help reduce waste at hotels and resorts.
Rainwater harvesting involves capturing rainwater, often from where it runs off rooftops, and storing it for future use. It can replace irrigation, or the water can be treated for household uses.
Right now, rainwater harvesting is not managed as part of the islands’ centralized water management system. Instead, households bear the cost to finance, build and maintain their own systems. Finding technical support can be difficult, leaving households to contend with seasonal variations in water quantity and quality. That makes risks to drinking water safety difficult to identify.
If rainwater harvesting were instead combined with central water systems in a managed hybrid water model, I believe that could help expand safe rainwater harvesting and address water issues in the region.
It’s a relatively new concept, and integrating decentralized sources can be complex , including requiring separate pipes , but it has potential to reduce water stress . Decentralized sources, such as rainwater harvesting, groundwater or recycled gray water , could serve as backup water sources during shortages or provide water for nonpotable purposes, such as flushing toilets or irrigation, to reduce demand for treated water.
The World Health Organization has declared that access to a sufficient, safe and reliable water supply is a fundamental human right , and that to accomplish this, water suppliers have a responsibility to provide adequate quantities of potable water.
Hybrid water systems could help ensure water safety and security for island communities and improve the water systems’ resilience amid the human and environmental pressures facing the Caribbean.
Farah Nibbs does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
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