The Virgin Islands has been urged to practice conservation of water, especially heading into the dry season. Photo: VINO

As part of World Water Day celebrations on Sunday, March 22, 2020, under the theme “Water and Climate Change,” the Virgin Islands (VI) has been urged to conserve as much water as they can according to Director of the Water and Sewerage Department, Mrs Perline R. Scatliffe-Leonard. Photo: VINO/FIle

Mrs Scatliffe-Leonard in her World Water Day Message said it is everyone’s responsibility to conserve water and reminded residents to be mindful of how the commodity is utilised. Photo: Internet Source

Director of Water and Sewerage Department (W&SD), Mrs Perline R. Scatliffe-Leonard said it is everyone’s responsibility to conserve water and is reminding residents to be mindful of how the commodity is utilised, noting that Climate Change impacts every facet of life and that one of the main resources it negatively affects is water.

Water & Climate Change 

“We know that as the climate gets warmer, water evaporates more from both land and the ocean; and so we can agree that the manner in which we use water can be dictated by Climate Change, given that less water is available."

The Director was at the time speaking to Government Information Service (GIS) where she noted that the need to conserve water remains paramount adding that her department has been studying and devising plans on how to improve the Territory's water infrastructure against disasters like hurricanes, earthquakes and floods.

“Our infrastructure has been strengthened so that we are able to provide water service to our customers after these events, even if our reservoirs are destroyed. We have been preparing, and in most cases, we are continually improving on and maintaining our goal of 100% readiness in our preparations,” she said.

It should be noted that in an effort to promote healthy practices, Cabinet of the Virgin Islands recently approved the suspension of charges by the Water and Sewerage Department for water to residences for a period of 30 days in the first instance, effective Thursday, March 19, 2020.

New Economic Opportunities 

Meanwhile, Deputy Secretary in the Ministry of Natural Resources, Labour and Immigration Mr Joseph Smith Abbott said fighting climate change will open up vast opportunities for the economy in many areas for the Territory.

“We need to embrace systems that make more efficient use of water. As the global population grows, so does the demand for water, which depletes natural resources and damages the environment in many places.”

He said local solutions include protecting areas that absorb carbon from the atmosphere such as oceans and wetlands, adopting climate-smart agricultural techniques, and increasing the safe reuse of wastewater.

“Water is our most precious resource and we must use it more responsibly,” Mr Smith said.