Jamaica urges residents to conserve water due to rain deficit

Last Updated on Monday, 24 November 2014, 22:05 by GxMedia

San Juan, Nov 24 (EFE).- Jamaica’s Meteorological Service has urged island residents to “remain vigilant” and conserve water due to a shortage of rainfall in some regions of the country.

“Southern parishes, in particular, are expected to continue to receive below normal rainfall and might plunge into drought conditions and some might remain into early next year when the dry season takes effect,” Meteorological Service head Jeffery Spooner said Monday in a statement.

Spooner’s call follows an appeal last week from the minister of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change, Robert Pickersgill, who pleaded with people to be more sparing in their use of water.

“I would not recommend any relaxation at all not even at Christmas. We should conserve on the use of the water and use it just for your required needs,” Spooner said.

He noted Jamaica received some 121 millimeters (4.7 inches) of rainfall in October, which is approximately 51 percent of normal precipitation for the month.

The capital city, Kingston, and localities such as St. Andrew, St. Thomas, Clarendon and St. Mary are some of the worst affected areas, according to Spooner.