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Saint Lucia: Issues Paper on Climate Change Adaptation & the Water Sector April 20095. Undertake reforestation and other measures to increase the resilience ofwatersheds and catchments to maximize water availability and to reduce soil erosionand sedimentation.6. Assess and address needs for water storage and distribution infrastructure toensure water availability during drought periods.7. Promote initiatives to identify and, where necessary, exploit non-traditionalwater sources such as groundwater.3.1 Additional Considerations : - Adaptation MeasuresBeyond the areas highlighted by Government in the Climate Change Policy andAdaptation Plan the following needs to be considered:1. The Water Sector Reform process when concluded this year will result in a newcompany to manage the provision of services to the sector as well as regulatoryenvironment. This is critical as investments under this program are key to the watersecurity of the country and by extension result in a reduced vulnerability of thesector.2. Map areas susceptible to saline intrusions and develop alternative sources of watersupply. Also explore the use of desalination techniques for saline tainted watersource.3. It is important not only to consider supplying water demand from conventionalsources such as rivers but also look at alternatives to these sources. The following aresources that can be used to augment the supply to facilitate long term, sustainabilityof the water resources.• Wastewater Reuse : - Waste water can be reused depending on its origin and thepurpose for which it is required. Domestic wastewater is perhaps a better choiceof wastewater over industrial wastewater but of course this depends on the natureof the industry. Domestic wastewater for example can be used for irrigation ofgolf courses in the hotel sector. Hotels tend to consume a significant amount offresh water at the expense of local consumers. This option can allow a reductionin the potable water demand of hotels.• Storm Water Collection & Use : - This is an option that is worth looking into inmore detail. It is evident in Saint Lucia that a significant amount of water is wastedand simply flows into the sea during and after periods of rainfall. If this water iscollected and treated it could be used for normal consumption.• Ground Water : - Due to the general impervious nature of the volcanic bedrockvery little water that fall as precipitation is stored as ground water. As indicatedpreviously the reserves are inadequate for major consumptive purposes. HoweverPage | 8
Saint Lucia: Issues Paper on Climate Change Adaptation & the Water Sector April 2009in recent times there has been exploration of deep groundwater reserves. It isworth pursuing further.• Desalination : - In this case the seawater resource is abundant but all factors needto be considered to ascertain the economic feasibility. This can be used as a lastresort due to the high cost associated with the process. It should be noted that dueto improved technology some desalination plants prove to be comparable interms of cost but this is dependent on the specific situation and the cost of theoptions available. One option is the utilization of brackish water or slightly salinewater from waters contaminated by salt water intrusions.• Rainwater Harvesting: - This is the collection and concentration of rainwater andrunoff for irrigation of annual crops, pastures and trees, domestic consumptionand livestock consumption. Catchment areas for rainwater harvesting are rooftops, small ground surfaces, courtyards, streets, public squares, slopes and largecatchment areas feeding seasonal rivers. Storage mediums consist of : underground– soil, sediment, cisterns; above ground tanks and jars, ponds, reservoirs. Roof toprainwater harvesting is already being explored in some areas in Saint Lucia withdomestic water supply problems. In recent times there have been a number ofprojects supported by the European Union, Government of Saint Lucia, CaribbeanEnvironmental Health Institute (GEF funded) promoting the widespreadreintroduction of rainwater harvesting.3.2 Adaptation Measures under consideration and implementationFurther to the identification of adaptation measures listed previously, the followinghighlights initiatives being pursued :1. Water Sector Reform Process to address the following:a. Regulation and Management of Water Resources to include the developmentof an Integrated Water Resources Management Plan, identification ofalternative sources of water (groundwater or desalination), promote waterconservation, establish system and sustain collection of water resources data.b. Regulation and Management of Provision of Services to include theestablishment of a new company to facilitate installation and maintenance ofnew infrastructure and maintenance of old infrastructure and systems.2. Water Conservation and Demand Management :a. Introduction of rainwater harvesting schemes.b. Promotion of water conservation in the dry season.c. Promotion of the use of water conservation devices.d. Wastewater reuse.e. Water demand reduction.Page | 9
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