St Mary’s water crisis and its ripple effects on the community

THE EDITOR, Madam:

I wish to highlight the ongoing water crisis affecting residents of St Mary, a problem that has become a daily reality for many households. For weeks, several communities have had little or no access to piped water. However, this issue is not new. Every year during the dry season, residents face similar challenges, despite St Mary being known as the “land of wood and water”. According to the National Water Commission (NWC), some water systems in the parish operate at only 10 to 50 per cent of capacity. This raises a troubling question: how can a parish blessed with numerous rivers and aquifers experience such severe water shortages?

One of the most serious consequences is the impact on healthcare services. Many residents, desperate for water, rely on tanks located at health centres. As a result, access to water and access to healthcare have become competing needs. In some cases, pipelines, pumps and fittings serving clinics have been stolen or vandalised. Consequently, healthcare workers often arrive to find empty tanks and damaged connections, making it difficult to wash hands, sterilise equipment and flush toilets.

The consequences are alarming. Clinical services may be delayed, clients face increased health risks, and clinic bathrooms often become unusable. Where are healthcare workers and patients expected to relieve themselves when there is no water to flush toilets? Tanks intended to serve hundreds of clients are sometimes emptied overnight to fill household containers, leaving healthcare facilities unable to function effectively. A health centre without water cannot properly prevent illness, and may instead become vulnerable to spreading disease.

The crisis also places a significant financial burden on residents. Many families spend up to $10,000 to fill a 1,000-gallon tank that may last less than two weeks. Although the NWC trucks water to some communities, uncertainty about delivery schedules makes planning difficult. Questions also remain about the source and quality of water supplied by private trucks, raising concerns about waterborne diseases.

While recent rainfall has provided temporary relief, it has not solved the problem. Long-term solutions include investing in water storage facilities, replacing ageing pipelines, expanding service to underserved communities, and repairing leaking infrastructure. Access to safe, reliable water is not a luxury; it is a necessity and a basic human right.

Ketiesha Andrade-Persaud

Public Health Nurse