La Ferme Reservoir, Mauritius
It is worth noting that at the same time last year, the reservoir rate was 95%. The low rainfall recorded so far is not enough to restore water levels. "Our reservoirs continue to empty, and the rains remain insufficient to fill them and ensure adequate water distribution throughout the country. There have been some showers, but we should not be under any illusions. Heavy rains, over several days, are needed to raise the levels." The minister stressed that the situation was worrying. We cannot wait for the reservoir rate to reach zero because at about 10%, the water becomes muddy.
Phase 2
Faced with this critical situation, the government has initiated phase 2 of the water management plan. Stricter measures are now being put in place. The use of drinking water for washing cars will be banned. "We have delayed this ban as long as possible because it is an economic activity that allows some people to earn a living. They use 15,000 m³ of water per month. A meeting will be held with the police to implement these decisions. Car washes will benefit from a moratorium of a few days to find alternatives." The same goes for the supply of water to fill swimming pools, even in hotels.
Mini-reservoirs of 9,000 litres will be placed in the most affected localities, including Notre-Dame, Lallmatie, Ti-Rodrigues, Baie-du-Tombeau, Sainte-Croix and Chamarel. This is to allow better accessibility for severely affected residents. "It is a somewhat archaic solution for distributing water, but given the current situation of the reservoirs and the Central Water Authority (CWA), we must use all possible means to bring water as close as possible to the population." In addition, 174 private wells have been taken into account to supply water to, among other things, factories, the sugar industry and irrigation. "We are aware that there may be some resistance, but the crisis situation requires that the State act in the interest of the country. We are mobilizing all available resources."
As for leaks, so far, 1,479 of them have been repaired but work still needs to be done. It should be noted that 62% of our water is lost. If 100 m³ comes from the CWA pipes, less than 40 m³ reaches consumers. "This is a problem to be solved in the future and we are doing our best to resolve it." In view of the complaints, the staff of the CWA call center has been reinforced, increasing from 13 to 31 agents. Engineers from other departments have also been mobilized to intervene on the leaks and respond to expectations on the ground. However, it is hoped that it will not be necessary to move to phase 3 of the plan, which involves more restrictions. According to Patrick Assirvaden, if the current weather conditions persist and nothing is done, the reservoirs could be dry between mid-March and the end of March.
The awareness campaign continues. The Minister of Energy stressed: “The closer we get to March, the more difficult the choices will be. Together, we must act responsibly to get through this crisis. It is crucial not to waste water and to use it more efficiently. It is important to remember that we are in a very severe drought, which requires some restrictions.” He added: “Nothing is perfect. Sometimes tankers are late. Leak repairs are not yet complete. In absolute terms, the situation is not perfect. The Crisis Committee meets daily to take stock of the situation. We have to find a balance between water management and its supply to the population. And this balance is difficult to achieve.”
In this difficult context, the minister maintains that this is not the time to play the blame game. The priority is to manage the situation until we pass the critical drought period.
Tank cleaning: Minister highlights risks
In this period of drought, the question of cleaning the reservoirs has been raised. In response, the Minister of Energy explained that, according to technicians, this operation involves risks. "It is delicate to use machines to dredge the mud. There is a risk of aggravating the cracks in the reservoirs. In addition, the amount of mud that we will remove will be minimal compared to the amount of water that we will be able to recover."