Reservoir Levels Decline to 48.5% Ahead of Summer Rains

As of December 23, the overall filling rate of reservoirs in the region stood at just 48.5%, a concerning decrease compared to last year’s 70.4% at the same time. The situation continues to worsen daily, with scant rainfall unable to significantly improve water levels. Despite initial expectations for summer rain in the second half of December, forecasts indicate little to no precipitation will occur by week’s end.

The reserves are looking grim. According to the Mauritius Meteorological Services (MMS), occasional light showers are predicted in the highlands leading up to December 26.

However, these brief downpours will not be sufficient to replenish reservoirs and underground water sources.

In light of this, Patrick Assirvaden, the Minister of Energy and Public Services, announced the need for strategic measures to manage the available water resources effectively.

“We will need to adjust distribution schedules if reservoir levels drop further,” Assirvaden stated.

“As in previous years, we will implement reduced distribution hours to manage what we have.”

He assured that both his ministry and the Central Water Authority (CWA) are closely monitoring the situation.

However, many residents, caught up in year-end festivities, seem unconcerned about the ongoing water crisis as they engage in extensive home and yard cleaning.

The MMS has indicated that an update on rainfall forecasts for the summer of 2024-2025 will be available shortly.

Rainfall initially anticipated for the latter part of December is now not expected this week, as we approach the end of 2024.

A report from the MMS revealed that rainfall for the first half of December was significantly below average, with only 50 mm recorded—just 74% of the long-term average.

This stood in stark contrast to the rain-soaked November, which ranked among the wettest Novembers in the past 30 years, with an average precipitation of 125 mm—147% of the historical average.

The Eastern region saw the highest rainfall total at 223 mm, while the North recorded an impressive 283% of normal precipitation levels.

Looking ahead, the consensus among meteorologists suggested that rainfall for Mauritius from December 2024 to February 2025 will be close to average.

December is forecasted to experience slightly below-normal rainfall, totaling around 130 mm, while January and February are expected to align more closely with typical precipitation patterns, at approximately 280 mm and 320 mm, respectively.

The decline in reservoir levels has become alarming, with all reservoirs reporting below 50% capacity.

As of December 23, Mare-Longue remained the most filled reservoir at 65.1%, followed by Mare-aux-Vacoas at 55.3% and Bagatelle at 50.8%.

All other reservoirs, including La Ferme, are at critical lows, with the latter registering only 28.1% capacity.

Moreover, an intense heatwave is expected this week, with coastal temperatures reaching 33 to 34 degrees Celsius, according to MMS forecasts.

The agency warned that temperatures will be up to 2 degrees Celsius higher than normal due to warm and relatively dry air currents affecting the region.

The MMS had previously forecast that summer temperatures in 2024-2025 would exceed monthly long-term averages by two to three degrees Celsius, with daily highs potentially reaching 35 degrees Celsius along the coasts.

As January is approaching, extreme weather conditions are anticipated to persist through March.

Weather forecasts suggested a likelihood of severe thunderstorms and heavy rainfall during this period, raising concerns for further complicating the existing water crisis.

Source: Defi Media