Drought Watch – Ways to Conserve Water at Home

According to Climatologist with the Barbados-based Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology (CIMH), Dr. Cedrick Van Meerbeeeck, severe drought is likely in St. Lucia early this year and that recurrent dry spells may affect crop growth.

He predicted that there is the possibility that a drought watch would be issued for northern Bahamas and St. Lucia.

A drought is a period of drier-than-normal conditions that results in water-related problems. If dry weather persists and water-supply problems develop, the dry period can become a drought. Short and long term droughts are likely to develop in parts of the Caribbean during this dry season, as a weak to moderate El Nino becomes more likely. St Lucia, and the Caribbean in general, should monitor water resources and look out for updates on the situation.

Focusing on water conservation and developing good household water use habits BEFORE drought conditions occur is smart, money saving, and earth saving. Here are some ideas to get you started:

Install Water Storage Tanks.

Water Storage Tanks

Since not all places have an abundance of water, residential water storage will become increasingly important.

Residential Water Tanks are used for safe drinking water, rainwater harvesting, long term water storage, emergency portable water storage, fire protection, irrigation and gardening. Since you may experience dry spells, or have access to poor quality or contaminated water, having a residential water tank is necessary.

Plastic residential water tanks are the most affordable and light-weight, and they require the least amount of maintenance. Steel tanks are subject to rust and erosion, and wood tanks will rot over time. Concrete tanks are extremely heavy, expensive, and require machinery for installation.

Rayneau’s plastic residential water tanks come from 200 -1000 gallons. Our premium polyethylene water tanks are UV stabilized and reduce algae growth. They are maintenance free and built to last.

We also has a number of water pumps, water purification systems, and other accessories required to make the best out of your Residential Water Tank.

Install a “HET”(high-efficiency toilet) or Dual Flush gadget

Toilets are by far the main source of water use in the home, accounting for nearly 30 percent of an average home's indoor water consumption. Older, inefficient toilets that use as much as 6 gallons per flush also happen to be a major source of wasted water in many homes.

Consider purchasing a low-volume toilet that uses less than half the water of older models.

Install a toilet displacement device to cut down on the amount of water needed to flush. Place a one-gallon plastic jug of water into the tank to displace toilet. Be sure installation does not interfere with the operating parts.

Install performance showerheads.

Replace your showerhead with an ultra-low-flow version.

Showering is one of the leading ways we use water in the home, accounting for nearly 17 percent of residential indoor water use—for the average family, that adds up to nearly 40 gallons per day. By retrofitting your shower with a low-flow showerhead, you can save a considerable amount of this water.

Install water-saving faucets

Most of us know we can save water if we turn off the tap while brushing our teeth (as much as 3,000 gallons per year!), but did you know that there are products that will help save water when you turn on the tap too? Low-flow faucets and faucet accessories (such as aerators) are high–performing, water–efficient fixtures that will help you reduce water use in your home and save money on water bills. By retrofitting your entire bathroom and kitchen with low-flow labeled fixtures, you can save even more.

Tackle this year's dry season head-on by shopping Rayneau for all your water-saving fixtures and water storage tanks.