GEO Haiti 2010

State of the Environment Report 2010
Insufficient volumes of water in limestone,
sandstone, conglomerate and schist. These units are
slightly deformed and unequally fissured. The depth of
the water-table generally varies between 5-50 m, but
may be as much as 200 m in the mountainous areas.
Insufficient volume of fresh water in the
almost impermeable clay; and in the consolidated
conglomerate, shale, limestone, and other rocks. The
depth of the water-table generally varies between
5-50 m, may be as much as 200 m in the mountainous
areas.
Insufficient volumes of fresh water in the
igneous and metamorphic rocks. The depth of the
water-table can exceed 100 m.
The volume of water in the alluvial aquifers in the
North Plains close to Fort Liberté, in the Artibonite delta,
in a large part of the Cul-de-Sac Plain around Saumatre
Pond, and in other alluvial outlets close to the coast is
hardly sufficient. The depth of the water-table generally
varies from 10-75 m.
1.2 State of Water Resources
The quantity and quality of water resources are
adversely affected by excessive exploitation,
inefficient management, deforestation and landclearing.
Much groundwater is contaminated or salty. It is
still however used by the population for domestic
purposes although it is mostly untreated. Water is
supplied to approximately 40% of the population
by water supply systems or wells built by the
government and non-governmental organizations
(R. B. Knowles et al, 1999).
Of the yearly one billion cubic metres of rainfall
(MPCE, 2004), only 10% of this quantity filters
into the ground as a result of the geology and
morphology of some watersheds, as well as
environmental problems.
In the industrial sector, more than 4 million cubic
metres of water are used yearly, among other
things, for beverages (juice, beer). Underground
water extracted from almost 800 wells is the main
source of water for this sector (PAHO/WHO, May
1996).
In regard to its use for agricultural purposes,
groundwater flows directly into a large number of
irrigation systems. The most important agricultural
areas in the country are the irrigated plains which
include the North Plain, the Fort-Liberté area, the
Cul-de-Sac Plain, the Cayes Plain and the smaller
valleys of the Artibonite and Estere Rivers (R. B.
Knowles et al, 1999).
However, ground water is also used in part for
energy production. The Electricité d’Haiti Service
(Ed’H), responsible for the electric energy system,
is located in Port-au-Prince and limits itself to
providing a rotational service by sector during the
driest months. There are seven Hydraulic power
projects underway in Haiti, accounting for a total
55 MW of power (see Table 10, chapter 1).
1.2.1 Exploitation of Water
Resources
Over the last decades, Haiti’s water resources
have been under severe pressure. In fact, the
population increase together with the problem
of management faced by the public institutions,
have allowed private investors to exploit these
resources, without the proper methods or
necessary operational regulations. As a result,
water from some layers is used without the
essential measures to guarantee sustained
quality and quantity. However, this problem is still
localized. The case of the Cul-de-Sac Plain is very
representative: the city of Port-au-Prince is largely
supplied with water from the watersheds of this
Plain, situated on the outskirts of the city, however
the distribution is ensured by private enterprises
and trucks, and there are hardly any provisions to
ensure water-table replenishment and a constant
quality of water. The similar situation exists in the
Gonaive Plain, in the Artibonite Province. The
possible deterioration of the water resources is
inevitable and could result in the difficulty of
supplying water to a significant segment of the
population.
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