Midlands Dam at 15% by January if it Doesn’t Rain Before Then

The country’s water reserves are significantly declining and could reach a critical level by January. Authorities are urging responsible usage, as summer rains are not expected until the second half of December.

The situation with reservoirs and groundwater is becoming concerning in Mauritius. If heavy rains do not occur in the coming weeks, the Midlands Dam may drop to only 15% of its capacity by January—a level too low for use. Authorities are making a strong appeal to the public to adopt responsible water usage to preserve reserves until the rainy season. This information was conveyed during the show 'Au cœur de l’info,' hosted by Jane Lutchmaya.

According to Lomush Juggoo, director of the Water Resources Unit (WRU), the filling rate of La Nicolière, fed by the Midlands Dam, was recently at 39.9% and is continuing to decrease. "Once the level reaches 23%, it will no longer be possible to draw water from the reservoir," he warned. He explained that the WRU is currently planning the management and transfer of water between different reservoirs to optimize available resources.

As dam levels continue to drop, he emphasized that sustained rainfall over several days would be needed to reverse the trend. "It’s never easy for authorities to make tough decisions regarding water supply, but the priority remains distribution for domestic needs," he specified.

In light of this situation, irrigation restrictions are expected to soon apply to the sugar sector. Kreepalloo Sunghoon, secretary of the Small Planters Association, lamented the difficulties faced by food crop farmers. According to him, water scarcity is affecting production and leading to rising vegetable prices. He also criticized ineffective water distribution management, as well as ongoing leaks and wastage.

Underutilized Resources

For his part, Varun Bissessur, deputy director of the Water Resources Commission (WRC), reminded that despite an overall filling rate of 74%, vigilance is still necessary. Based on data from the Mauritius Meteorological Services (MMS), he noted that the country has been experiencing a rainfall deficit for several weeks and that summer rains are not expected until after mid-December. "Given the uncertainties related to climate change, everything must be done for judicious use of this precious liquid," he insisted. Hydrogeologist Dr. Sébastien Martial believes that groundwater resources remain underutilized. He explained that much of this water eventually flows into the sea, hence the need to better assess the quantities that can be sustainably extracted. According to him, Mauritius remains too dependent on surface reservoirs. In this regard, Varun Bissessur specified that a catch-up effort is underway, with 25 boreholes completed since November 2023. New tenders will be issued soon to increase the number of boreholes.

Oceanographer and environmental engineer Vassen Kauppaymuthoo advocated for a rapid increase in storage capacity, particularly through rainwater harvesting from rooftops and the creation of mini-reservoirs in catchment areas. Like Dr. Sébastien Martial, he also emphasized the importance of better coordination and increased information sharing among various stakeholders to implement short, medium, and long-term measures.