The Water-Related Emergency was declared on May 17th, 2024 after the Water and Sewerage Company recorded abnormally low water levels at the John Compton Dam.

The low water levels were ascribed to hotter surface temperatures and little rainfall during the dry season.

Even before the water emergency was declared, WASCO had to suspend water availability to high-altitude communities across the country. In most cases, water trucks had to supply potable water to households a few buckets a time.

Despite a return to normalcy, the Minister is urging consumers to be mindful of the importance of water and to avoid waste.

“All the restrictions we had in terms of use of water during the water-related emergency have been lifted and now people are free to use water as normal. I'm not saying because we've revocated it that you can just go and use water lavishly. We must understand this is a very, very important resource to our country.”

Water security is an issue of concern for regional governments as harsher dry seasons undermine the traditional rainwater harvesting used in the Caribbean.