SVG now under a Drought Watch as water disruptions hit several communities

By Admin. Updated 5:46 p.m., Friday, May 8, 2026, Atlantic Standard Time (GMT-4). 

The Central Water and Sewerage Authority (CWSA) says St. Vincent and the Grenadines has officially been placed under a Drought Watch by the Caribbean Climate Outlook Forum (CariCOF), with ongoing dry conditions causing intermittent water disruptions in several communities.

The communities primarily impacted so far are those along the Vermont Valley to Calliaqua corridor and in the Marriaqua Valley, as reduced rainfall continues to affect key water sources across the country.

In a release dated May 8, 2026, the CWSA said updated reports from CariCOF, along with ongoing monitoring of weather patterns, local climate stations and river flow data, indicate that drought conditions are expected to persist until the end of May 2026.

The authority noted that it had previously warned the public in a January 14, 2026 release about forecasted short-term drought conditions up to March and a longer-term outlook extending to May.

At the time, customers supplied by the Dalaway, Montreal and Mamoon water systems were advised to prepare for possible outages and water rationing due to anticipated reductions in water supply.

The CWSA said rationing schedules have since been implemented over the past several months for customers served by the Mamoon and Montreal systems.

According to the authority, the Dalaway, Montreal and Mamoon water sources are now under significant stress as river flows continue to decline because of reduced rainfall in upper watershed areas.

The resulting shortfall in supply has led to intermittent disruptions affecting some domestic and commercial customers, particularly in communities stretching from Vermont Valley to Calliaqua, including Largo Height, Green Hill and Lodge Village, as well as the Marriaqua Valley and nearby areas.

The CWSA warned that the disruptions are expected to continue until conditions improve.

Residents in affected communities are being encouraged to monitor the CWSA’s Facebook page and local radio stations for updates and water rationing schedules.

The authority said it remains committed to providing safe, reliable and affordable water services while continuing to closely monitor the evolving drought situation and keep the public informed.

END