NWC's Vice President Garth Jackson addresses the current state of the island's water supply systems and what's being done to build drought resilience.
Drought is generally a long period of little or no rain, or much less than normally expected rainfall — though there are more precise definitions for specific conditions.
While drought is often used interchangeably with "dry season," the two aren't the same. A dry season that occurs as expected isn't a drought. But rainfall during a wet season that falls below 60% of the 30-year historical average can mean drought conditions in the middle of a supposed wet season.
A period when soil moisture is inadequate to meet the demands for crops to initiate and sustain plant growth.
A period of below-average or below-normal stream-flow and/or depleted reservoir storage.
A period of well-below-normal precipitation (rainfall) that spans from a few months to a few years.
According to the Meteorological Service of Jamaica, several parishes in the eastern and southern sections of the island — worst affected are Kingston & St. Andrew and Clarendon — have received below-normal rainfall in recent months, and are projected to stay below normal for the next 2–3 months.
Droughts are caused by well-below-normal rainfall resulting from irregularities in weather patterns — including global warming, climate change, El Niño, and other phenomena. Localized droughts can also be worsened by poor environmental and development practices, including deforestation, watershed degradation, and over-use or pollution of water sources.
Many of NWC's major projects build resilience and reduce the likely impact of drought — including the 8.5 MGD Groundwater Aquifer Recharge Project, the Kingston & St. Andrew Non-Revenue Water (NRW) Reduction Project, and the Spanish Town Road Pipeline Replacement Project, alongside dozens of smaller island-wide projects protecting sources and modernizing infrastructure.
Adjust your usage and store some water in case supplies in your area are disrupted or put on a schedule.
Good conservation habits can reduce water use by up to 30% with no significant inconvenience.
Call 888-CALL-NWC to report leaks on the public network so they can be addressed quickly.
Illegal connections waste water that isn't being paid for — help NWC find and fix them.
Turn off taps as soon as water isn't needed, and don't use the toilet as a wastebasket.
Reuse water from washing plates or clothes to water plants, wash cars, or water lawns.
Swap high-flow toilets and gushing showerheads for water-saving flow restrictors and aerators.
Fix all leaks, even small ones — about 10% of water in homes is wasted through leaks alone.
Recent rainfall comparisons and drought conditions sourced from the Meteorological Service of Jamaica.
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Source: metservice.gov.jm
Briefings, response updates, and field reports from across the island.
See the current storage at Mona Reservoir and Hermitage Dam, updated weekly.