The water level at the largest reservoir on the island, Mare aux Vacoas, is still below average at only at 48.9%. Its capacity is 25.89 million cubic metres but as of Friday it contained only 12.67 million cubic metres.
The Director of the Central Water Authority, Mr Dev Auckle, said that the CWA will be forced to maintain the strict water supply regime to the regions which depend on the Mare aux Vacoas for water.
“Water has been distributed at two intervals daily since December to these regions, namely the Plaines Wilhems region. This is a serious issue. Usually the Mare aux Vacoas is filled with summer rains, but they have not come yet,” Mr Auckle said.
However, water levels at all the other reservoirs of the island are above average. La Nicoliere and La Ferme are at 100%, the Piton du Millieu at 99%, Mare Longue at 80.6% and the Midlands Dam at 82.4%.
Mr Auckle explained that the rainfall pattern has drastically changed over the years. “It is quite surprising to note that heavy rains have been observed in the Eastern, Northern and Southern regions of the island which has not usually been the case in the past. What is really disturbing is that we will be in winter very soon and that our reservoirs are filled normally in summer only.
“The water levels of our underground reserves are also in a critical situation. All the underground water reserves are supplied with rainwater falling mostly on the central plateau.” The water crisis has been affecting the country since December last year.