Water figures remain dire

THE WATER situation on the island remains desperate, with dams only 12 per cent full and no end to the drought in sight.

Meteorological service records show that rainfall for the month of January, up till Thursday, was just over half of that expected.

The Water Development department reported yesterday that there were 33,012, 000 cubic metres of water in reservoirs.

“This represents 12.3 per cent of capacity, which is very, very, low,” a departmental officer said.

He added that even during last year’s drought, the dams held 53,400,000 cubic metres of water (19.9 per cent of capacity).

Flow into reservoirs has increased over the past two months as rains have saturated the ground and led to increased stream flows, but experts warn only a very wet February and Spring will lift the spectre of serious Summer water shortages.

In October 103,000 cubic metres of water flowed into dams, in November this figure reached 1,349,000, in December it shot up to 4,475,000 and for this month so far the flow stands at 4,365,000 cubic metres.

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