Contact: Tonia Skeete, National Coordinator, Caribbean Youth Environment Network (Barbados Chapter)

[BARBADOS, March 22, 2010] On March 22nd 2010, World Water Day will be commemorated. It is an annual campaign used to bring attention to the vital role of potable water, as well as the need to develop sustainable strategies to manage this precious resource.

The commemoration this year is indeed timely, especially since the region is currently experiencing a sustained lack of rainfall, and policy makers have had to implement measures such as rationing. This situation highlights the fact that water resource management programmes need to compliment national and regional developmental efforts in major sectors, such as Agriculture, Construction and Tourism and of vital importance to small island states, Land use Management.

The importance of water for the continuation of all life remains irrefutable. In Barbados more than 267 litres (60 gallons) of water  per person is used daily post 2004 compared with the UN suggested 20-50 litres of safe freshwater a day to ensure their basic needs for drinking, cooking and cleaning. The issue of water use in Barbados is not a new one, as recently as 2003 the Government of Barbados was forced to procure on an emergency basis a desalination plant which was housed in a trailer, to ensure that the population had enough water.

Barbados has been recognised as one of the most water scarce countries in the world ranking #8 among island countries and # 15 in the world. With the 16th densest population, it is understandable that there would be water scarcity.  A large population, coupled with a limited land mass and with no natural bodies of water (rivers, lakes etc) where the main source of water is ground water will have water concerns. Barbados’ limited water supply is stressed by increased incidences of imperviousness, such as increased construction and the removal of soil cover through the cutting of shrubs etc.  Other major users of water are the tourism and agriculture industries. In 2004 alone, the daily usage of water for hotels amounted to 678 litres.

 Challenges include:

-      Unaccounted for water (leaks, burst mains, public taps/stand pipes)

-      Non enforcement of building codes (installation and use of cisterns)

-      Lifestyle changes leading to water wastage (excessive car washing etc)

-      Lack of designed water catchment systems to catch water from roads, or coastal areas (where it simply flows into the sea).

-      Loss of plant cover for construction, further reducing the permeability of soil and the capacity of the soil to absorb water for the aquifers.

-      Pollution (litter, agricultural runoff)

-      Water has become a political issue, where it has impacted on the financial feasibility of water management, as people assume that they should not have to pay for water.

 Water is life; so many times we have heard and even repeated this, that it has become cliché in some circles. Unfortunately, in many circumstances the severity of drought or drought like conditions isn’t truly understood until the impact is being realised by the human population; while this is a primary focus of water scarcity, we must also remember the importance it has for the natural environment, without which our existence would be severely challenged. This rings true, although it has been observed the droughts are not chance occurrences, but are a part of a natural process and so can be studied and even predicted. Historically therefore, corrective measures are too reactionary and do not go far enough to make a significant impact on the problem of water scarcity.

The question remains however, so what can be done? Moreover, how can Caribbean Youth play a role today in ensuring the wellbeing of life tomorrow? One certainty is that adaptability in terms of changes to water availability will have to be made, not only by our governments and other water management agencies but individuals.

Too long have we expected water to come with the turn of the tap, so much so that we leave it running whilst washing our dishes, brushing our teeth, while lathering in showers and washing our cars! We must make the effort to realise that such activities are wasteful and that it is time for a change. We can and must make a difference, lead by example and ensure this precious resource for our future.

For more information on World Water Day please go to http://www.worldwaterday2010.info/