Thirst in Paradise: Why Water Shortages Are Becoming a Crisis Across the Caribbean
By Z. Charles | Green Caribbean Chronicles I’ve been thinking a lot lately about water. Not just as a symbol of life, but as something more fragile than we often admit. For many of us raised in the Caribbean, water has always felt abundant — beaches, rain showers, and lush green hills. Yet now, we are seeing signs of a very different reality: water scarcity is no longer a distant threat; for many islands, it's already here. How Bad Is It? A Look at the Data According to regional assessments, some Caribbean islands are officially water scarce . For example: Barbados has less than 307 m³ of renewable water per person per year , well below the “water scarcity” threshold of 1,000 m³. OAS +2 DW +2 Antigua & Barbuda (800 m³) and Saint Kitts and Nevis (621 m³) are in similarly precarious positions. OAS A major study found that on average, Caribbean water utilities lose 46% of treated water before it reaches homes. International Science Council +1 In tourism...