St. Lucia Drought Emergency

The move is aimed at managing and protecting the island’s potable water supply and is being taken in accordance with the country’s Water and Sewage Act. It states that if the Minister of Agriculture, acting on the advice of the Water Resources Management Agency is satisfied that by reason of an exceptional shortage of rain, or contamination of water, a serious deficiency of supplies of water exists or is threatened, considers a water related emergency is necessary, he may cause a declaration to that effect to be made.

Stringent measures will be implemented to manage the use of water provided by the Water and Sewage Company (WASCO) and will remain in effect until further notice. It will be illegal to use the company’s water for watering gardens,lawns, grounds and farms; for supplying of ponds, or swimming pools or for use other than normal domestic services such as drinking, cooking, washing, bathing and sanitation; for non pressure and pressure washing of houses using a hose or watering or washing roadways, pavements, paths, vehicles, garages or out rooms; by major contractors, for concrete, and block making and construction; by plants making concrete; to fill leaking storage tanks and overflowing tanks; or any purpose thatmay require the use of “a considerable or excessive quantity of water”.