Regulatory framework
An act to provide for the management of water resources and to regulate the delivery of water supply services and sewerage services throughout Saint Lucia and for related matters
An act to make a provision for a national policy for water, for the establishment of an Authority to be known as the Water Sewerage Authority, for conferring on that Authority functions as to water, including sewerage and sewage disposal, and connected purposes
The Policy aims to promote the concept of freshwater as a socially vital economic good that requires a coordinated and participatory management approach to sustain economic growth and reduce poverty. It also recognizes the importance of balancing water uses with the needs of the multiple interrelationships of the ecosystem. The policy emphasizes that government action is not enough and that the people of Saint Lucia must become aware of the true value of water in their daily lives and use it wisely.
The fact that drought conditions will be repeated in Saint Lucia is the reason for the Drought Conditions Water Management Plan. This plan provides a framework to prepare for and respond to future droughts in order to minimize conflict and negative impacts on Saint Lucia's natural resources and economy.
The National Environment Policy provides the general framework for environmental management in Saint Lucia, and establishes links with policies and programs in all relevant sectors of economic and social development. The National Environmental Management Strategy aims to provide specific guidelines and mechanisms for a more effective implementation of the policy and includes the specific expected results and actions necessary to achieve the policy objectives.
The Saint Lucia National Adaptation Plan (NAP) has been defined as a ten (10) year process (2018-2028), consisting of priority cross-sectoral and sectoral adaptation measures for eight key sectors/areas and a segment on "limits of adaptation", complemented, incrementally, with Sectoral Adaptation Strategies and Action Plans (SASAP). The priority sectors for adaptation measures are: Tourism; Water; Agriculture; Fishing; Infrastructure and territorial planning; Management of natural resources (terrestrial, coastal and marine); Education; and Health.
This Saint Lucia’s Sectoral Adaptation Strategy and Action Plan for the Agriculture Sector (Agriculture SASAP) 2018-2028 is a sectoral policy document at the national level. The overarching goal of the Sectoral Adaptation Strategy and Action Plan for the Agriculture Sector is to overcome the barriers (policy, regulatory, institutional, technical, financial, business and social) to facilitate the adoption and scaling up of climate resilient agriculture best practices and businesses for enhancing food and nutrition security in Saint Lucia under a changing climate. Four major expected outcomes are: 1. Enhanced enabling environment for climate adaptation action in the agriculture sector; 2. Enhanced nutrition, food availability, quality and security through adaptation in the agriculture sector; 3. Strengthened partnerships for scaling up climate resilient agriculture; 4. Built adaptive capacity to climate variability and extremes in the agriculture sector.
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This Saint Lucia’s Sectoral Adaptation Strategy and Action Plan for the Water Sector (Water SASAP) 2018-2028 is a cross-sectoral policy document at the national level. The overarching goal of the Water SASAP is to drive the implementation of effective adaptation actions across all sectors and at all levels of society for safeguarding Saint Lucia’s water resources and services under a changing climate. In the SASAP, the adaptation measures are grouped under 13 strategic objectives and contribute to four major expected outcomes, namely: Outcome 1. Enhanced enabling environment and improved behaviour for water-related climate adaptation action; Outcome 2. Increased water access, availability and quality; Outcome 3. Increased water efficiency and conservation; Outcome 4. Strengthened preparedness to climate variability and extremes.
The Climate Change Adaptation Policy is a national policy with a multi-sectoral approach. The timeframe of the Policy is 10 years between 2013 and 2022. The objective of this Policy is to address the short, medium and long term effects of climate change in a coordinated, holistic and participatory manner in order to cope with and adapt to the adverse effects of climate change on sustainable development and the quality of life of Saint Lucians.
Institutional Framework
The Water Resources Management Agency is committed to the management of Saint Lucia's water resources. Firmly adhering to the principles of integrated water resources management, the Agency, which will have a committed and scientifically competent staff, will use the most appropriate technology and will commit to participatory approaches and strategic partnerships to enhance collaboration between sectors. public and private, and the interests of civil society in promoting the sustainability of water resources.
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Promote a diversified national income base from agriculture and fisheries and improve food security and livelihood systems by generating the capacity for efficient and competitive production and marketing of the respective goods and services.
100% owned by the Government of Saint Lucia, it is responsible for the provision of water and wastewater services in Saint Lucia. WASCO is responsible for the collection, treatment and distribution of drinking water, as well as the provision of sewage services in available regions. Additionally, there are a number of private suppliers of bottled water obtained from private springs or tap water.
Water comes mainly from surface waters (rivers and springs). The water is extracted from various sources throughout Saint Lucia, is treated and distributed to households and businesses. There are 8 outlets serving the north of the island (from Anse la Raye to Gros Islet) and 22 outlets serving the south of the island (from Dennery in the east to Vieux Fort in the south and the Canaries in the west).
St. Lucia
The John Compton Dam (JCD), located on the Roseau River, is the main storage reservoir serving most of the northern part of the island and has a design capacity of 3 million m3. The water is transported to the Theboalds water treatment plant for treatment and then distributed among several communities in the north of the island, from Bexon to Cap Estate in the far north. From the total water produced by WASCO, it is estimated that 57 per cent is used for domestic purposes (including agriculture), 17 per cent for the hotel sector, 13 per cent for the commercial/industrial sector and the remaining 12 per cent for the Government (including schools). and hospitals). Almost 100 per cent of the population of Saint Lucia has access to drinking water supplied by WASCO.
Links of interest:
Commonwealth