Africa-Press – Seychelles. With significant parts of the country’s water system under stress from the dry conditions, coupled withweather patterns which have become more unpredictable due to climate change, the Public Utilities Corporation has imposed water restrictions in south Mahé.
Public Utilities Corporation (PUC) general manager water, Ibrahima Diallo, told the media yesterday in an interview that “the level of water is very low in some reservoirs in south Mahé‒Port Launay, Port Glaud and Grand Anse.”
“This is why we have already started imposing water restrictions at night from 10pm to 4am in this region, all the way from Cascade to Anse Boileau, Baie Lazare and Takamaka. It had been forecasted that we would receive some rain on Wednesday, but we did not. So, if the situation worsens in the coming days, we will have to extend the restriction periods from 10am to 4pm and from 10pm to 4am,” added Mr Diallo.
He also noted that the dry condition started in March and for the past six weeks all desalination plants have been working to full capacity to help preserve the water stock.
“We have been blending sea water and river water to distribute to consumers, but the situation does not look good for now. Unless we receive some rain that can fill up the rivers and reservoirs, we will have to impose stricter restrictions, explained Mr Diallo.
As for the Rochon dam which distributes water to most parts of central Mahé, Mr Diallo said it is at 94% full.
He added that work on the La Gogue dam to increase storage by 60% (600,000 cubic metres), thus contributing towards the increase of water supply in the country, is expected to complete soon.
“Since the reservoirs in south Mahé can hold a certain level of water, we hope to build an additional dam at Grand Anse. This will help relieve the pressure and ensure clients in south Mahé of unrestricted water supply,” said Mr Diallo.
The Grand Anse dam is still in the feasibility stage.
In the meantime, members of the public are being urged to use water wisely and to avoid wasteful practices such as watering flowers or washing cars.
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