Tuesday March 22, 2022 will be celebrated as World Water Day by 193 countries around the world. It is a day in the global calendar of events to focus on the plight of billions of people lacking access to safe drinking water and also to celebrate actions taken to address the global water crisis.
This year’s theme for World Water Day is: “Groundwater: Making the invisible visible.” Groundwater is a vital resource that provides almost half of all drinking water worldwide, about 40% of this water is for irrigated agriculture and it further provides about 1/3 of water required for industry. It sustains ecosystems, prevents land subsidence and seawater intrusion. It must be highlighted that of the global freshwater supply, groundwater constitutes approximately 30% of that resource.
While rivers are the primary source of water supply in Saint Lucia, groundwater actually sustains the base flows in these rivers. Forests also play a critical role in the water cycle as they regulate water infiltration into our soils, facilitating groundwater recharge. If there are no forests, there is no water! We therefore need to be mindful of our interaction with the ground and what we remove or dispose onto it. The environmental consequences may well end up back at our feet!
Plans are in effect to create a hydrogeological map of the island to better understand the potential of groundwater reserves. Viable groundwater reserves will help to offset low surface water availability during the year. It is truly about making the invisible visible.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Rural Development continues to encourage environmental conservation and the responsible use of water resources and extends best wishes to all our stakeholders on the observance of World Water Day 2022.
