Regulatory framework
Law that regulates the control and use of underground sources of water supply on the island and other related matters.
Law establishing the Barbados Water Authority.
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This Act allows the Head of Agriculture, with the approval of the Minister responsible for agriculture, to order the carrying out of surveys, investigations or studies in order to determine whether irrigation is necessary for certain agricultural lands, or to experiment with plans, schemes or irrigation equipment, or irrigate or cause to be irrigated any land, and for this purpose distribute water, control or operate hydraulic works or any other device.
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An Act making provisions for the improvement and conservation of soil and for the prevention of damage or deterioration by erosion of land in certain areas of Barbados and for matters relating thereto.
This Act makes provision with respect to soil conservation in the District of Scotland and to this end establishes the District Soil Conservation Board of Scotland.
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Law that establishes provisions for the execution of the works necessary to prevent and control floods and floods caused by excessive rains and high tides, as well as by the low level of various places, causing inconvenience to people and damage to health and property, and authorizing the Minister to take all reasonable measures in relation thereto.
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Law establishing provisions for the orderly and progressive development of land; for granting permits to develop land; powers to regulate land use and development; and related matters.
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The Barbados National Strategic Plan (NSP) 2005-2025 sets out the Government's main development agenda for the 20-year period 2005-2025. Objective four of the PNE specifically addresses "Building a green economy: Strengthening physical infrastructure and preserving the environment." one of its objectives is Objective 1.2
Maintain a safe and reliable water supply.
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Law that provides for the collection, collection, treatment and reuse of wastewater for various purposes.
Maintain a safe and reliable water supply.
Public services regulation law.
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It comprises two parts: ongoing long-term measures, such as leak reduction and universal metering, and short-term measures, such as temporarily shutting down parts of the system on a rotating basis or temporary licensing restrictions.
short-term measures, such as temporary closure of parts of the system on a rotating basis or temporary restrictions on licenses for private extractions.
private extractions.
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Law that establishes provisions for the orderly and progressive development of land, both in urban and rural areas, and for preserving and improving its amenities, for the granting of permits to develop land and for other powers of control over the use of land, to confer additional powers in respect of the acquisition and development of planning land, and for purposes relating to the above matters.
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The Regulation establishes rules regarding the discharge of water through public sewers by domestic premises and industries. Industrial wastewater may not be discharged without permission from the Director General of the Water Authority (art. 4). Owners or occupants of premises are required to connect to the public sewage network (art. 5). Private sewers must meet the requirements of general systems (art. 14). Permits must be obtained from the Director General to carry out sewage works and construction plans must be submitted (arts. 16-34). Prohibited discharges are regulated in arts. 9-11.
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Institutional Framework
To be the leading agency in the preservation, conservation and protection of the country's environment and ensure that environmental considerations are at the center of Barbados' Sustainable Development agenda.
The BWA is an official body that supplies drinking water to the island of Barbados and is responsible for wastewater treatment.
The Barbados Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation (BADMC) was established in 1993 by legislative act (Cap. 254). Our mandate is the development and support of Barbados agriculture and livestock, agricultural production and agribusiness.
The Department of Environmental Health of the Ministry of Health and Welfare seeks to reduce the morbidity and mortality of communicable diseases through programs and activities aimed at reducing health risks from the environment.
The Planning and Development Department (PDD) is responsible for the orderly and progressive development of Barbados. To address this challenge and ensure that development is sustainable, the PDD uses the Physical Development Plan as a broad administrative policy tool to outline settlement and growth patterns and the allocation of land to various uses. However, this document is not the only determinant of the decision-making process.
Annual internal renewable water resources (IRWR) are estimated at about 80 million m3. Surface water amounts to about 8 million m3, groundwater derived from infiltrated rainfall to about 74 million m3, while overlaps between the two (springs and baseflow) are estimated at about 2 million m3. Groundwater represents by far the largest proportion of the island's water resources due to the fact that the limestone layer, which covers 86% of the island, is highly permeable, allowing for a well-developed aquifer system.Most of Barbados' rivers are dry due to the permeable nature of the coral karst limestone.
Barbados
Relief Web
Links of interest:
Water reaches the aquifers through gullies and sinkholes. As a result, there are no perennial rivers that can be used for water supply. In the Scotland district much of the rainfall is lost through runoff to the sea due to the relatively impermeable oceanic rocks. However, in times of heavy rainfall the gullies flood, often causing localized flooding downstream.In 2005, total water abstraction was estimated at 81 million m3, of which 54.8 million m3 (68%) for agriculture, 20 million m3 (20%) for municipalities and 6.2 million m3 (26%) for industries.