From Jamaica to Puerto Rico to Trinidad: the Caribbean’s drought is regional, not local

Jamaica’s National Water Commission is expected to issue a water prohibition notice on Wednesday, August 12, with restrictions set to take effect on Monday, August 17, banning non-essential water use across seven parishes — Kingston, St Andrew, St Thomas, St Mary, Portland, St Ann and St Catherine — and remaining in force until further notice amid ongoing drought conditions and critically low rainfall.

The Jamaican government’s decision follows a high-level stakeholder meeting with the NWC and the Meteorological Service confirming that rainfall levels remain critically low while temperatures continue to rise.

• The prohibition orders will ban NWC customers in the seven named parishes from using piped water for non-essential purposes, including irrigating gardens, lawns and farms; filling ponds or swimming pools; washing vehicles with a hose; and washing roadways, pavements, paths, garages or outrooms.
• The Ministry of Water, Environment and Climate Change says penalties may apply under the prohibition orders to individuals and entities found in breach.
• Jamaica’s Meteorological Service director Evan Thompson confirmed that parishes including St Elizabeth, St James, St Ann and St Mary were already in drought as of late June, with Manchester and St Catherine moving toward drought conditions — a situation expected to have worsened through July.
• The drought mitigation cost to the Jamaican government could reach an estimated $500 million if dry conditions persist through coming months, according to reports from the ministry briefing.
• In Trinidad and Tobago, the Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA) has confirmed that reservoirs remain below full capacity despite recent partial recovery, while Public Utilities Minister Barry Padarath says his government has ramped up desalinated water production through Desalcott and is exploring a mobile desalination facility for Tobago.
• Guadeloupe’s prefecture has placed Grande-Terre and the island of Désirade under a formal drought alert, restricting individuals, businesses and farmers from filling swimming pools, washing cars at home, cleaning driveways with water and watering large lawns.