Storm Flurry & Water Woes

What a weekend! After a month and a half into the 2009 Hurricane Season without so much as a tropical storm, we had 3 storms pop up in just over 24 hours. It’s the first time in over 20 years that we had the A, B, and C storms active at the same time.

Now that Ana’s fizzled out, and Claudette came and went in a hurry, we’re now keeping an eye on Bill. Not that it’s a threat to Jamaica, but it sure strengthened really quickly!

Here’s what’s out there now…

Any way, we need rain. Not too much too soon; we’re so parched and the soils are so dry that it’ll cause mudslides if we get too much right now. We’re in the midst of the return of El Nino, so that would explain what’s happening. But what exactly IS happening? We need to know that Jamaica has distinct wet and dry seasons, but this year’s been a bit rough: in June, we got only 81% of the normal rainfall for that month.

All this inevitably has an impact on our water resources. In areas with surface drainage, lack of rain means lack of water feeding the rivers (in areas fed by springs, the situation isn’t as severe). This then affects all public water systems relying on rivers to supply water. It’s important to begin tapping into underground water sources to sustain our demand. We also need to look at more efficient means of storage, including wet season storage, rainwater harvesting, and hard rock drilling. Artificial recharge of wells using wet season flows could also help.

But we need to look at reducing our consumption, while also improving efficiencies of delivery and use. The Water Resources Authority of Jamaica is an EXCELLENT organization at the forefront of hydrological research in the Caribbean. Remember, it’s not the water utility, the NWC, that has to find the water and manage it; their job is just to distribute it. And water isn’t just for human consumption, with the bulk of water destined for agricultural use. But you cannot forget the water cycle: if we keep consuming water, disregarding the fact that it was to come from somewhere, then eventually it’ll run out if there’s no resupply from the rains. It’s as simple as that, so don’t bother complaining to anyone.

This is supposed to be the land of wood and water isn’t it? Wood is sustained by the water, and the water comes from the rains; we’re an island, so there’s nowhere else it can come from…

PS…. go Usain and Shelly!