The Tribune

By Natario McKenzie

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

THE impact of climate change on water resources, along with the measures that can be taken to combat this, were highlighted during recent high level sessions at the Caribbean Water and Waste Water Association (CWAA) annual conference and exhibition.

Terrence Smith, chairman of the National Water and Sewerage Authority (NAWASA), told Tribune Business that 10 ministers with responsibility for water in the region were in attendance at the high level session.

“This session has provided an opportunity to discuss issues relevant to what we call integrated water management or looking at water management in a holistic way,” he said.

“There have been very rich discussions on the main issues and concerns of various Caribbean islands with respect to water. Some of the themes that have come up are the importance of integrated water resources management. The prominent theme that has come up is the impact of climate change, understanding and appreciating the links between climate change and water, and the various mitigation as well as adaptation measures that have to be taken.”

Dr Christoper Cox, programme director with the Caribbean Environmental Health Institute (CEHI), said: “The biggest driver of the water resource sector is climate change. It is not disputed that climate change is going to impact the distribution and the amount of rainfall, for example. It is going to have an impact in terms of sea level rise as well.

“With some of the countries like the Bahamas and St Kitts, some of the lower islands, there is concern because if you have a sea level rise when your wells are close to the shore line, they can start to suck up sea water, which makes it more difficult to treat and so on.

“There was also concern about more intense hurricanes, more frequent rainfall events in places where you could get a lot more run-off and erosion. These are the types of concerns people have. They are already manifesting themselves, and water resources is going to be a key manifestation or a barometer of climate change.”

Dr Cox added: “One thing that seems to be clear is that when we start to design infrastructure, like bridges for instance, you have to design them for the amount of heavy flows you may get with respect to powerful hurricanes, or you may have to increase your water storage in anticipation of protracted droughts.”

Dr Cox said the nexus between energy and water was also highlighted during the session. “Desalination is costly, and some countries just don’t have the financial resources to do this. The common perception is that water is free, and there is not the recognition that there is a cost. A lot of the cost for water in many of the countries is well below the cost it takes to produce it to the level where it can be safe to drink,” he added.