Authorities in St. Kitts and Nevis have reintroduced water rationing following below normal rainfall last month.
The Water Services Department has informed customers that the rationing, which had ceased for the Christmas and Carnival celebrations, will be in effect daily from 10 o’clock at night until 5 o’clock in the morning daily. Additionally, no water will be sold to cruise vessels.
It said recent showers had only improved the situation “slightly” and therefore encouraged consumers to “continue to observe measures that will help to mitigate the upcoming dry period”.
Senior Meteorological Officer Elmo Burke said 1.89 inches of rainfall was recorded in December 2015, which is about half the 3.76 inches of rainfall recorded in December 2014.
He forecast that the below normal rainfall will persist for the next three months, and will be followed by a slightly above normal period of rain between April to June. However, he has advised that drought conditions will last up until May.
