Water Security in the Caribbean

Late June saw the Sixth Caribbean Water Operators’ Conference hosted at Bay Gardens Hotel, Rodney Bay. Billed as “the only conference of its kind that targets water and sewerage operations in the Caribbean Region”, the Conference is an important vehicle for local engineers, analysts, water and wastewater operators, and other water professionals to engage and inspire new action in the field of water security. 

 A conference of this kind, in and of itself, would be important, but it also serves as a reminder that the water industry and its professionals are principally devoted to water security, although they cannot achieve it alone. In partnership with these professionals, the role of government, other stakeholders and everyday citizens is vital. 

So, for Saint Lucia and the wider Caribbean, what water-friendly policies can be successfully pursued by government? And what would empower everyday citizens in pursuing water security?

Global Water Security 

The trials of water scarcity and the quest for water security are challenges that, essentially, every nation on Earth must face. They are also issues that can be largely indiscriminate, from a geographical perspective. Though nations like the United States and China may be leading global economies, they are also countries with huge populations, and significant portions of their territory taken up by tracts of desert land. It’s also why many nations with similar tracts across the Middle East North Africa (MENA) region, that historically have been affluent as oil-rich nations, nonetheless remain embattled by water scarcity. 

So, Caribbean nations do not confront the problem of water scarcity on their own. If there is one upside to this reality, it’s that collective efforts across the world add to the wealth of insight and expertise devoted to driving lasting resolutions. However, countries around the Caribbean must recognise distinctive local problems that are hurdles on the road to water security.

Perception and Reality

One of the popular misconceptions often bandied about in the region is the wide availability of water due to its island nature. Any quick look at a map will confirm the size of the Caribbean Sea but this perception can hold back public advocacy and debate surrounding the issue of water scarcity.

The link between an abundance of sea water and an abundance of fresh water has long been tenuous, and in some cases there’s no link at all. It’s why finding fresh water was historically an obsession for explorers. The first task of any party that landed at a new location was often to seek out the nearest stream or freshwater lake. It is also why, even today, more contemporary explorers off on adventures in SUVs and campervans are still advised to stock up with an ample supply of fresh water in case a breakdown leaves them far from help. 

Achieving water security within nations across the Caribbean is more complicated than simply putting a few extra bottles on the back seat. Elsewhere, many nations and movements have found success in pursuing initiatives that incentivise citizens to actively save water directly.

Water Around the Home and Workplace

Water scarcity and security have long been among the most serious of national and international issues; a field to which prime ministers, presidents and leading diplomats rightfully devote extensive attention. But while major new infrastructure spending and aid agreements bring significant change, so too can smaller pursuits.

Several governments across the world have found success in the pursuit of water tank rebates. This is a scheme whereby residential home occupiers purchase a water tank for non-commercial use, to collect rainfall, and the government refunds a portion of the payment. Sizes can vary but a 1,000 litre water tank is a common offering (a standard bathtub holds around 300 litres).

This amount is, of course, not enough to switch off taps permanently but it offers everyday citizens a free source of water that can be used around the home and outdoors for non-cooking and bathing tasks. Within the business sector, many commercial buildings globally have incorporated industrial rainwater tanks to achieve similar effects at an organisational level.

There is also the capacity for non-water products and devices to help out. The installation of temperature-controlled water-heating devices can set a home’s hot water to a consistent temperature. This means numerous litres of water are saved each year because the desired water temperature for a shower or bath is ready right away, instead of water being lost down the drain because it’s not yet warm enough.

Filled to the Brim

In 2013 the World Resources Institute ranked seven Caribbean nations — Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Trinidad and Tobago — equal-first with nine other nations as among the most water-stressed countries in the world. 

 This region faces the annual risk of havoc caused by hurricanes so an approach to water security must be pursued with that in mind. In turn, investment in major infrastructure for water security, like desalination plants, should be undertaken only when the risks of hurricane damage have been minimized. This by no means discounts more expansive efforts in this space, but affirms that the quest for water security at the grassroots level is one area where a drip-by-drip approach can deliver real results.