2 July 2019
UPDATE
- Island-wide water restrictions see significant reduction in water consumption levels and slight gain in stored water
- Reservoirs levels remain dangerously low
- There is still no surface water runoff going into the Island reservoirs
- This is an Island-wide issue and until the situation improves we must all restrict our water usage to essential use only
A great effort by the St Helena public has seen daily water consumption reduce by over 150,000 litres compared to Monday, 24 June 2019, when Connect Saint Helena Ltd (CSH) enforced Island-wide water restrictions. While this is encouraging, St Helena water levels remain dangerously low (see photo attached) and the public is urged to continue to keep consumption as low as possible.
There has been a very slight increase of 2% in stored water over the past week, due mostly to this reduced water consumption rather than an increase in rainfall. Despite this, over the month of June, the water levels in Island reservoirs have decreased by an average of 190,000 litres daily. This trend cannot continue.
To preserve our precious resource it is important that we continue to cut down our water use to essential use only. Despite some recent rainfall, surface water runoff has not increased, meaning there has not been enough rain to runoff into the reservoirs. At least two weeks of continuous meaningful rainfall is needed to make a positive difference in reservoir levels.
CSH is continuing to utilise other sources of water – tanks, boreholes & springs – and has seen an increase in efficiency with regards to pumping from the boreholes. They will continue back-pumping from Chubbs Spring to Red Hill and also bowsering from Jamestown to sustain available resources.
It is everyone’s responsibility to take great care in using our water and consumers are urged to reduce consumption wherever possible. St Helena residents, businesses and people who use water for agricultural purposes are also urged to exercise great care and restraint when using water.
Regular updates on reservoir levels will be issued to the public.
If you see anyone using water irresponsibly or notice a burst pipe or leak then please inform CSH immediately.
Every drop counts, every action counts – Everyone must save every drop of water possible.
#StHelena #WaterShortage #EveryDropCounts
https://twitter.com/StHelenaGovt
https://www.facebook.com/StHelenaGovt/
St Helena Resilience Forum
2 July 2019