St Lucia dam facing drought finds deluge

As of Monday, May 7, 2012, water levels at the Dam exceeded 334 feet, which means that water is now flowing over the spillway.

CASTRIES, St Lucia, Tuesday May 8, 2012 - St Lucia’s Water and Sewerage Company (WASCO) is literally wringing its hands in confusion as it has been forced to handle the current unseasonal heavy rainfall, just as it was gearing up to deal with a drought.

The incessant rain over the last few days has not only ensured that the island’s largest reservoir the John Compton Dam was replenished but there are reports that it is overflowing!

As of Monday, May 7, 2012, water levels at the Dam exceeded 334 feet, which means that water is now flowing over the spillway.

This has erased fears of an impending drought as just last week, WASCO had informed the public that it would be embarking on a water rationing programme to help conserve the fast depleting resource at the Dam.

WASCO had reported that as of last week, the dam receded to 227.1 feet or about six feet below the spillway.

The recent rains have spurred a series of water cuts in various parts of the island as the water company seeks to deal with the increased water intake.

The Company says that it is closely monitoring the system as rain continues to fall heavily with bursts of sunshine in between. Click here to receive free news bulletins via email from Caribbean360. (View sample)