Earth Today | Early Warning System recommended to reduce water sector vulnerability
Published:Thursday | March 27, 2025 | 12:07 AM
THE ESTABLISHMENT of an efficient Early Warning System for key hazards is among the recommendations from a Vulnerability Risk Assessment report, done on Jamaica’s water sector to inform policymaking and overall sustainable development.
The 2022 report, produced by the Faculty of Science and Technology at The University of the West Indies, Mona, has also proposed “well-regulated hazard mitigation and management systems” together with mandatory construction of additional storage facilities and grey water [wastewater] systems, as well as a Water Sector Maintenance Standard.
Also proposed is the enforcement of no-build zone policies for flood and landslide-prone areas and the establishment of watershed protection zones.
The recommendations, once implemented, are intended to minimise damage on water supply systems through stakeholder collaboration, including among utility companies and the Water Resources Authority; as well as through routine servicing and infrastructure improvements.
These recommendations, among others, come as the assessment report flags a variety of risks to the water sector, not the least of these that “the island’s major infrastructure, including airports, seaports, power plants are located along the coastal areas and flood plains of major river systems” notably the Hope, Yallahs, Rio Cobre, and Rio Minho river systems.
“About 56 per cent of the island’s economic assets and – 70 per cent of the population are located along coastal areas. The last 10-15 years has shown an increase in the demand for coastal space thus showing continued growth regardless of the vulnerability of Jamaica’s coastline to natural hazards such as hurricanes and storm surges. Aside from flooding, geohydrological hazards such as landslides have also impacted sections of the island, primarily the eastern parishes resulting in damage to roads and infrastructures,” the report noted.
These natural hazards, the document explained, present even more of a risk given climate change realities.
“Climate change projections show an increase in the drying trend for the Caribbean which would impact directly its water resources and with increase in urbanisation thus causing water shortages,” it said.
Citing recent research, the report also said that an increase in dry days for the northern Caribbean is expected towards the end of the century with rainfall projections predicted “with a shift in the distribution of rainfall pattern which will have a direct impact on the water resources”.
All told, the report said that there will be challenges as Caribbean islands, including Jamaica, seek to realise the sustainable development goals and in particular with respect of Clean Water and Sanitation, Responsible Consumption and Production as well as Life on Land.
The Vulnerability Risk Assessment for the water sector is among 10 reports produced for the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, with funding support from the Inter-American Development Bank.