The Central Water and Sewerage Authority (CWSA) has issued an urgent advisory for residents of St. Vincent and the Grenadines to implement immediate home water storage solutions amid an unprecedented rainfall deficit. Meteorological data reveals that precipitation during the 2025 rainy season registered at merely 687.1 mm—less than half the annual averages recorded between 2020 and 2024, which consistently exceeded 1,296 mm.
Joan Ryan, CWSA’s Public Relations and Marketing Manager, confirmed that surface and groundwater aquifers remain critically under-replenished, creating precarious conditions ahead of the upcoming dry season. Communities dependent on the Montreal, Dalaway, and Mamoon water sources are expected to experience the most severe impacts, historically being the first affected during drought periods.
The Caribbean Climate Outlook Forum (CariCOF) projects both short-term drought conditions persisting until March and prolonged drought extending through May 2025. In response, CWSA has activated its emergency management protocol, intensifying monitoring of water sources, accelerating leak detection and repair operations, and enhancing public communication campaigns.
Water rationing measures may be implemented earlier than usual and maintained for extended durations, accompanied by stringent conservation mandates. Residents are strongly encouraged to develop household water storage systems, with official guidelines recommending a minimum of ten gallons per person daily. Hardware stores nationwide are stocking water storage tanks, and CWSA has provided instructional resources for constructing DIY storage solutions using plastic barrels.
Ryan emphasized the role of climate change in intensifying these unpredictable weather patterns, noting their significant impact across the Caribbean region. CWSA remains committed to ongoing monitoring and public information dissemination as the nation prepares for challenging water security conditions in the coming months.