In all its recorded history, Trinidad and Tobago has never had a severe drought—i.e., a water shortage where people went thirsty or even where crops failed so food was scarce. Nor is this likely to happen this year, despite the drought warning issued this week by the T&T Meteorological Service (TTMS). That said, both the authorities and citizens must take precautions to offset any effects from a diminished water supply.The TTMS says that Trinidad is facing a drought watch for this month, while Tobago and parts of North-Eastern Trinidad could move into drought warning conditions in October. Because of irregular rainfall, hot days, and declining soil moisture, the agriculture sector might have added risks to crops and livestock.In interviews with farmers published in yesterday’s Express, none warned about food shortages. Instead, they explained that the higher temperatures over the coming weeks might lead to higher prices. One farmer from Aranjuez called for the Aranjuez River to be dredged, so that water can be let into the channels and accessed by farmers in the event of a drought. Another from Carlsen Field, Central Trinidad, complained, “WASA is not giving us water. We have to buy the water, and that’s an additional cost.”This raises issues of not only water supply but water management. If the Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA) gives farmers (and other commercial enterprises) water, this is a business subsidy provided by an enterprise which is already itself subsidised—on average, to the tune of $2 billion every year, according to a 2020 Cabinet subcommittee report on the utility. That distorts prices in the agricultural sector, which in turn means less efficiency.That same report noted “the dysfunctions inherent in WASA are so deeply entrenched in its current form, the organisation is incapable of effectively satisfying its customers’ demand and the State’s mandate”. This is worrisome enough even during normal times, but such inefficiency can cause, if not actual danger, then unnecessary pressure on the population if the drought warning plays out as predicted by the Met Office between now and December.The previous People’s National Movement (PNM) regime made some half-hearted attempts to institute change at WASA, but made little progress, while the current United National Congress (UNC) administration has not even flagged any new business model for the authority. Until that happens, the Government should instruct WASA to make wider use of the Sections 43 and 44 of the Water and Sewerage Act, which respectively allow the utility to “authorise any person to supply water to any other person in any area” and “grant a licence...authorising any person...to acquire water rights for abstraction from a watercourse of sufficient water for the purposes of any industry”.If implemented on a competitive basis with transparent criteria, such measures would enable private enterprise to supply water in areas where WASA falls short—efficiencies that could become crucial under drought conditions.In the meantime, citizens should strive to conserve water and ensure they always have an adequate supply stored for essential needs.
Our water system must change course
In all its recorded history, Trinidad and Tobago has never had a severe drought—i.e., a water shortage where people went thirsty or even where crops failed so food was scarce.
494 words~2 min read
