Imminent Ban on Water Use for Vehicle Washing & Pool Filling

In response to the ongoing drought, authorities have announced that the use of drinking water for washing vehicles and filling swimming pools will soon be prohibited. Patrick Assirvaden, the Minister of Public Services, made this declaration during a press conference on Thursday, January 30.

Addressing the media, Assirvaden highlighted the persistent challenges facing the water supply, stating that the levels in the country’s seven reservoirs have not shown any improvement.

“Currently, the average water level in the reservoirs has decreased from 41% to 39.8%.

This alarming situation necessitates the activation of Phase 2 of the emergency plan developed by our authorities,” he remarked.

During this period of drought, the minister emphasized the implementation of various measures aimed at alleviating the effects on consumers.

Notably, approximately thirty water tanker trucks have been deployed to supply areas in urgent need, including hospitals and dialysis centers.

Additionally, mini-reservoirs with a capacity of 9,000 liters will be installed in regions such as Petit Rodrigues.

To enhance communication and response efforts, the Central Water Authority (CWA) has increased its call center staffing from 13 to 31 personnel.

Assirvaden also drew attention to a significant issue with water leaks, revealing that a staggering 62% of the water supply is lost due to such “leakages.”

He stated that a crisis committee meets daily to evaluate and address water management issues.

Furthermore, the authorities have taken control of private groundwater resources, specifically those owned by companies such as ENL and Médine, in an effort to manage the ongoing crisis more effectively.

Source: Defi Media