Dear Editor,

I am not an engineer, I also know nothing about construction, but it seems there is at least some correlation between the number of new buildings being constructed and the chronic water shortage plaguing the country.

There has been a significant increase in the number of multi-family homes since the completion of the hermitage dam in 1927 and the Yallahs Pipeline Project in 1986. It seems that if demand for water keeps increasing almost exponentially, but the supply remains fixed or less, in some cases, due to dilapidated water infrastructure and normal loss of water, eventually there’ll be a water shortage crisis.

The Government should be commended for recognising the seriousness of the current water inconvenience for many citizens, even if belatedly, and taking steps to alleviate the problem over time. Projects such as Rio Cobre Water Treatment Plant, Western Water Resilience Project, Munroe Road-Wellington Drive Pipeline upgrade, and the Drought Mitigation Allocation are welcomed problem-solving initiatives.

Could it be, though, that the water shortage problem has gone far ahead of our current problem-solving initiatives? Could it be that we’re lagging behind the problem, managing, as usual, by crisis and not by exception and forethought?

Attributing all our water shortage issues to drought in a country with significant annual rainfall is like engaging in an unproductive blame game. Every year we know the next year will be like the current year in terms of the months of heavy rainfall and the months of low to no rainfall. It is for this reason those in charge of planning and development are expected to apply their knowledge, skills, and competence.

Kevin Simmonds

kevinsimmonds1410@gmail.com