Dear Editor, Jamaica is once again being forced to confront a problem that we too often take seriously only when our taps begin to run dry — water.

The current drought is affecting communities, farmers, businesses, and households across the island, with the eastern parishes facing particularly severe conditions.

As of October 1, the National Water Commission (NWC) reported that 107 of its systems were being affected by drought, with the Hermitage Dam at about 40 per cent capacity and the Mona Reservoir at approximately 34 per cent.

These figures should concern every Jamaican.

For many households, water restrictions mean storing water, changing daily routines, and worrying about when the supply will return.

For poorer families, the situation can be even more difficult because they may not have large tanks, pumps, or the financial resources to purchase water privately.

Businesses also face additional costs when they must buy or transport water to maintain operations.

But perhaps the greatest concern is what the drought means for agriculture and food security.

Farmers cannot simply switch off their fields when there is no rain.

Crops require water, livestock require water, and agricultural workers depend on successful production for their livelihoods.

Jamaica was already struggling to recover from the devastating effects of Hurricane Melissa, and prolonged drought is placing additional pressure on farmers.

Recent reports indicate significant declines in agricultural production, with crops such as plantains, yams, fruits, and legumes among those affected.

This should make us question how secure Jamaica’s food supply really is.

We cannot continue depending heavily on rainfall for agricultural production while knowing that changing weather patterns can produce prolonged periods of dryness.

The Government has announced measures, including water trucking, catchment ponds, drip irrigation, and additional storage for farmers.

These interventions are necessary, but they must become part of a long-term national strategy rather than emergency measures activated whenever a drought becomes severe.

The drought should also force us to examine how we use water as individuals.

A leaking pipe, a running tap, an excessively long shower or the unnecessary washing of vehicles may seem insignificant, but multiplied across thousands of households, the waste becomes substantial.

Conservation cannot be something we practise only when restrictions are announced.

At the same time, Jamaicans should not be expected to carry the entire burden of water conservation while infrastructure continues to lose valuable water through leaks and inadequate systems.

Government must invest in modern water infrastructure, additional storage, improved distribution networks, rainwater harvesting, and other sustainable sources.

Recent discussions about increasing storage capacity for Kingston and St Andrew demonstrate that our existing infrastructure must be strengthened to meet the needs of a growing population.

We also need to change our thinking about rain.

Jamaica can experience periods of severe drought followed by intense rainfall.

Instead of allowing large quantities of rainwater to run off and eventually reach the sea, we need greater investment in systems that capture and store water when it is available.

Households, farms, schools, businesses, and public institutions should be encouraged to harvest rainwater where practical.

The current drought is also a warning about climate resilience.

We cannot assume that Jamaica’s traditional rainfall patterns will always remain predictable.

The Meteorological Service has warned of hotter and drier conditions associated with El Niño, while rainfall projections have indicated below-normal rainfall in several areas.

Therefore, the question is not whether the drought will eventually end.

Rain will return.

The real question is whether we will have learnt anything by the time it does.

When the reservoirs recover and the restrictions are lifted, will we return to wasting water? Will farmers continue to depend primarily on rainfall? Will we continue postponing major investments in water storage and distribution until the next crisis arrives? Jamaica cannot afford this cycle of crisis, emergency response, and forgetfulness.

Water is not an unlimited resource, and drought should not be treated as a temporary inconvenience.

It is a national warning.

We must conserve what we have, strengthen our infrastructure, support our farmers, and plan for a future in which extreme weather may become increasingly difficult to predict.

The time to prepare for the next drought is not when the reservoirs are empty.

It is now.

Dustin Brown Brownd12@gmail.com