Saint Lucia is heading into the peak of the 2026 dry season with river flows already at critically low levels, raising concerns about national water security.
Director of the Water Resources Management Agency (WRMA), Jason Ernest, issued the warning during a press conference hosted by the Water and Sewerage Company Inc. (WASCO) on January 12.
Ernest said rainfall during December and January, typically the most critical months for groundwater recharge has been significantly below normal. As a result, groundwater reserves remain poorly replenished and river systems are under increasing strain. “WRMA and WASCO do not produce water; we manage and distribute what nature provides,” Ernest said, noting that a drier-than-usual wet season has extended into what should have been the most beneficial recharge period.
According to the WRMA director, current river discharge levels are comparable to those usually observed near the end of March in a good year an unusually early and troubling indicator. “We are seeing discharge rates now that we normally expect much later in the season,” Ernest said, describing the situation as a concern for both water managers and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Climate Change.
Ernest explained that Saint Lucia relies heavily on groundwater systems and stressed that rainfall distribution is as important as total rainfall. Intense rainfall events that rapidly run off into rivers and the sea provide limited long-term benefit to groundwater recharge. “What we really need are smaller, consistent rainfall events that allow infiltration and percolation into the ground,” he said, adding that local soil composition further limits how much water can penetrate underground reserves.
He cautioned that even when vegetation appears green, groundwater reserves may still be low, reducing the volume of raw water available for potable water production.
Against this backdrop, Ernest urged households and businesses to invest immediately in rainwater harvesting systems, describing them as a critical resilience measure. “You always win when you practice rainwater harvesting,” he said, adding that such systems can supply between 50 and 70 percent of household water needs, easing pressure on WASCO’s infrastructure during prolonged dry periods.
The WRMA is now working closely with WASCO and the Saint Lucia Meteorological Services on a weekly basis to monitor river flows and assess mitigation options. While authorities hope to avoid declaring a water emergency, contingency planning is already underway.
“We are hoping we do not have to declare a water emergency, but we must prepare for that possibility,” Ernest said.
He concluded by emphasizing the importance of individual action as the dry season unfolds. “Rain will still fall, even in the dry season,” Ernest said. “The question is whether we are prepared to capture it.”
