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<Proceedings of the International Symposium on Efficient Water Use in Urban Areas
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INTEGRATED APPROACHES FOR EFFICIENT WATER USE IN BARBADOS

By John Bwalya Mwansa
Project Manager, Barbados Water Authority
Water Resources Management and Water Loss Studies

INTRODUCTION

Barbados is an island approximately 430 square kilometers in size with a resident population of approximately 260,000 persons. It is presently entirely dependent on groundwater abstracted from a coral-rock formation that covers about 84% of the island, for all of its water supply.

According to the 1997 Water Resources Management and Water Loss Studies, for an average rainfall year, the total amount of developable water resources available from all sources (groundwater, spring water and surface runoff) is 225,410 m3/day, out of which 202,591m3/day is groundwater.

Current information from the Barbados Water Authority (BWA), the sole agency responsible for public water supply and management of all water resources, shows that their total water abstractions in 1998 (from 21 public water supply wells and 2 spring sources) fell to 140,909 m3/day from a 1996 and 1997 high of 159,091 m3/day. Other abstractions include that from privately owned and operated wells, for industrial and irrigation uses. The amount licensed for private abstractions is approximately 36,364 m3/day. However, since only 30 of the approximately 120 operating wells known to the BWA, are metered, the abstraction figures used are based on pump-installed capacity rather than actual abstraction figures.

Based on these estimates, current groundwater abstraction levels either equal or exceed the developable and sustainable groundwater yields for most of the groundwater units. Furthermore, these abstraction levels cannot be met in the design drought year of either 1 in 15 year or 1 in 20 year without affecting the water quality through saltwater intrusion and experiencing some water outages. This was clearly demonstrated during the two (2) consecutive 1 in 15 year droughts of 1993 and 1994.

The public outcry and debate resulting out of the 1993 and 1994 water supply outages, plus the findings of the 1996 Water Resources Management and Water Loss Studies, forced Barbados to seriously look to approaches for more efficient usage and management of the limited water resources. These conditions also made the community more conducive to accepting and adopting these measures.

APPROACHES ADOPTED TO ENCOURAGE EFFICIENT WATER USE

The approaches adopted include:

1.   IMPLEMENTATION OF A UNIVERSAL METERING PROGRAMME

Up until July 1997, approximately seventy percent (70%) of the domestic water use customers were on fixed rates and did not therefore concern themselves too much about the amount of water used. This made it very difficult to quantify and control water usage by this group of customers. However, all the commercial and industrial customers were metered.

In addition, most of the groundwater abstracted from private wells, even though supposed to be limited by license conditions, was not metered and had no other provisions to monitor or induce efficient water use.

A universal metering programme to be supplemented by a proposed change in tariff structure and policy, as well as regulations governing private well abstractions was recommended and approved by the government. However, whereas the BWA undertook to install the meters for all domestic customers, the private well owners lobbied and were allowed to be responsible for the installation of meters, meeting BWA specifications, on their wells. The latter, has met with less success, whereas the domestic meter installation programme is on target to be completed by September 1999.

The first part of the programme consists of the installation of 40,000 meters and ball valves, through a private contractor. This part is funded by a two million, eight hundred and fifteen thousand, six hundred dollars (US $2,815,600) loan, from the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB). The second part consists of 20,000 meters funded by the BWA and to be installed by in-house plumbing crews.

2.   REDUCTION OF HIGH UNACCOUNTED FOR WATER (UFW)

The 1997 Water Resources Management and Water Loss Studies estimated the national average UFW level at 60%, using the metered records and estimates from samples of the 70% fixed rate customers. However, current 1999 data, where the ratio of fixed rate customers to metered customers has been reversed from 70% to 30% in 1996, to 30% to 70% in 1999, indicates that the UFW level is around 40%.

Based on the 60% UFW estimate, a target of reducing this to 30% by the year 2016, through intensified leak detection and repair work as well as mains replacement and rehabilitation programmes, was initially adopted. However, as a result of the more recent data, resulting from the universal metering programme, these targets are now under review and will be revised.

3.   PUBLIC EDUCATION/PUBLIC AWARENESS CAMPAIGN

A number of approaches and activities have been undertaken and are ongoing in relation to water resource management and encouraging efficient water use. These activities have included:

  • on-going water conservation messages in all media;
  • national consultation meetings and workshops;
  • Lectures and presentations to specific target groups by BWA personnel (i.e. primary and secondary schools, church groups, social clubs, government officials etc.),
  • participation in radio call-in programmes and other discussion panels;
  • Distribution of thirty thousand (30,000) low water use fixtures (showerheads and Kitchen tap aerators) to fully paid up BWA customers.

However, there has been no specific survey carried out to assess the success or failure of these activities. It is very clear though, that the level of awareness has risen, based on the increased number of letters and articles on water related issues, in the newspapers and discussions on call-in programmes.

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