Midlands Dam
Image by ION NEWS
Authorities are planning sanctions against those who waste drinking water.
Due to a severe drought, it is imperative to put a stop to large-scale high-pressure cleaning and car washing. The Central Water Authority is introducing its plan to reduce the hours of drinking water supply from today, now limited to 4 or 5 hours per day across Mauritius. The filling rate of our reservoirs is below 40%, according to the latest figures from the Water Resources Unit.
The Minister of Energy and Public Utilities, Patrick Assirvaden, calls on Mauritians to make sacrifices during this period of drought. He warns those who waste water and announces sanctions.
Midlands Dam is in the red. With a maximum storage capacity of 25.50 million cubic metres, the island's second largest reservoir is only 41.4 per cent full. At the same time last year, it was 99.4 per cent full. If things don't change, the water surface area will shrink further and vegetation will take over, as aerial images show.
With a maximum capacity of 11.52 million cubic meters, La Ferme Reservoir is the 4th largest on the island, but this reservoir is used most of the time for irrigation. Today, this reservoir is only filled to 27% of its capacity, while for the same period last year, it was filled to 68.1%.
The aerial image of La Ferme Reservoir is palpable and shows the gravity of the water situation in the country at present.
The island’s smallest reservoir has not been spared from the water stress facing the country. With a storage capacity of 2.99 million cubic meters, Piton du Milieu was, at this time last year, 100% full. Today, it has a filling rate of only 44.5%. The aerial image of Piton du Milieu clearly demonstrates the drop in water levels.
Currently, the country is facing a water shortage, with reservoirs averaging 43%. In some places in the island's largest reservoir, the water has given way to a few plants that have grown there. Mare aux Vacoas, with a maximum storage capacity of 25.89 million cubic meters, currently has (Editor's note: this Saturday morning) only 12.34 million cubic meters, or 47.7% of its capacity. At this time last year, Mare aux Vacoas was at 87.1%.