Barbados is as Water Scarce as Jordan!!

This is from a fairly recent IDB (International Development Bank) report

In 1978, Bajans used 10 gallons of water per day, according to John Mwansa, acting chief engineer of the Barbados Water Authority (BWA). Now the use level stands at 60 to 63 gallons a day for residents, and 179 gallons a day for hotel guests. “We have reached the limit,” says Mwansa. “We have taken out as much water from the ground as we can.”

Several factors account for the growing water scarcity. For one, Barbados ranks among the driest countries in the world, comparable to the kingdom of Jordan in terms of available water per inhabitant. 

Whenever I tell anyone this, the first reaction is shock. We are in the tropics and it rains an awful lot. however, after just a week or two of no rain it soon becomes obvious as the grass gets browner, and the earth cracks up, that the water is not held in the soil. 

What is water scarcity?

Hydrologists typically assess scarcity by looking at the population-water equation. An area is experiencing water stress when annual water supplies drop below 1 700 m³per person. When annual water supplies drop below 1 000 m³ per person, the population faces water scarcity, and below 500 cubic metres "absolute scarcity".

Barbados with 260,000 people has approximately 300 m3 per person - absolute scarcity.

The main reason is of course geological - the island is made up from limestone which is very porous and therefore the water is not held.

Population - pressures of a very dense population

Economic - tourist pressure for pools, showers, golf courses

Agricultural 

Infrastructural - most of the pipes on the island are 100 years old or more. it is estimated that 50% of all water is lost just in transport.

source: Caribbean 360

An island of opposing coastlines

Through two different aspects of Geography, the island has totally different coastlines on the east and the west.
1. Prevailing winds and fetch - these tend to be from the North East and with the whole of the Atlantic ocean to blow over, it creates large waves which have a powerful erosive force.
2. Geology: Although most of the island is limestone, the east has large sections of sandstone and clays. As a result many of the steeper areas on the east are prone to land slipping. The crack in our house gets bigger and bigger at this time of year with the dry weather followed by short bursts of rain.

 

Interesting Bajan Terminology Part 1

· ecky-becky - a poor Caucasian [a *very* offensive term] 
Redleg - see above

For the last 4 years I have been living in Martins bay. It is the centre of where most of the poor whites who were the descendants of indentured servants from Ireland and Scotland. The term above is what they are sometimes referred to.



Here is a Great Video giving the history of this community.

Geographynerd in Barbados

About Time too....
Its nearly 4 years since my roaming took me from the deserts of Dubai to the tropical coral island of Barbados. Totally different Geography. So I suppose after all this time I should have some good Geography tales about the country.
Most interesting fact - Barbados is as water scarce as Jordan in the Middle East! Thats what comes from being a coral island. We have just had months with very little rain. The land is dry and the cane fires are crackling. Almost got caught in one today. It is at this time of year that everyone starts to realise just how little water there is. To have tourism as the main industry with the water expectations of pools and showers is tough. Also the recent rise in golf tourism and the vast quantities of water needed there have added pressures. However Sandy lane built its own $1million desalination plant ... explains the green fees there.