With the unprecedented low level of water in reservoirs, boreholes and rivers, the Central Water Authority (CWA), the Water Resources Unit (WRU) and the meteorological station held a press conference on Thursday at the headquarters of the CWA in St Paul to give an overview of the situation.

More importantly they made an appeal to the population to co-operate and not to make misuse of water to enable a fair distribution. Meckduth Chumroo, acting chairman of the CWA, stated that the situation is critical and another review will be done in January.

If the situation is such that it demands further water cuts.

“The situation is critical as we are faced with one of the most severe droughts that the country has known during the past few years. We are making an appeal to the population to use water for basic needs only. We also need the collaboration of the private sector during this difficult period,” said Chumroo.

Dev Aukle, acting general manager, said it is everyone’s responsibility to manage water properly.

“We have three sources of water: rain, rivers and groundwater. At the moment there is no rainfall. Seventy per cent of our water comes from groundwater and rivers but they are almost dry,” said Aukle.

Balraj Dunputh, director of the meteorological station, said that according to the long term forecast that was made in October, heavy rainfall should have occurred in late December, but now it seems that it will happen only in mid January.

According to the ‘grands centres météorologiques’, south-western side of the Indian Ocean region will have less rainfall. “It will be difficult to get 7-8 cyclones next year, which usually brings a lot of rain,” he said.

WRU director Daneshwar Deepchand said that the island is facing this situation as there has been a shortage of rainfall which has been occurring since March and has continued till December.

Even the underground water has dried up to 50 per cent.

“Hence we must manage water properly, not for the present only but also for 2011,” he said.

Deepchand added that the various dams under construction, namely at Rivière des Anguilles and Bagatelle, will help alleviate the problem.

CWA chief engineer Jeet Munbauhal gave an overview of the situation across the island. He said that each region has different conditions in terms of water supply and water cuts.

Starting from Port Louis, he said that despite water shortage, the CWA has maintained normal distribution in many regions.

However, regions such as Vallée des Prêtres are facing severe water cuts and water tankers are being sent to these regions.

In the north of the island, the same situation is prevailing as these regions mainly get water from boreholes.

In the east, the inhabitants get water from Piton du Milieu. The level has decreased hence the need to maintain water cuts.

It is the same situation that exist in the south where many regions depend on water from rivers and boreholes.

In the west of the island, from Palma, Bassin, Bambous to Le Morne and lower Plaines Wilhems Stanley, Beau Bassin and Coromandel are facing huge water problems.