1. Coastal Aquifer Management in the Caribbean Workshop 14 th -16 th December 2011 The Water Resource Management Agency Ministry of Sustainable Development, Energy, Science and Technology St. Lucia Farzana Yusuf-Leon

2. St. Lucia- Overview Area: 616 km 2 Population: 166,526 (May 2010) Geology/Topography: Rugged, primarily volcanic Wet season: June to December Dry Season: February to May Average annual rainfall: approximately 1700 mm with September being the rainiest month Rainfall is significantly higher over the mountainous interior than coastal areas Main economic activities: Tourism, Agriculture, Fishing, Services, Small Manufacture

3. Establishment of the Water Resource Management Agency (WRMA) The WRMA was established by the promulgation of the Water and Sewerage Act No. 14 of 2005. The Agency became functional in 2008. The Agency is headed by a Director and comprises of administrative and technical staff.

4. Functions and Powers  Promoting the sustainability of all our water resources.  Establishing and maintaining a database relating to water resource management.  Receiving and considering applications for abstraction licenses and permits for use of water in water control areas and for waste water discharge.

5. Functions and Powers Developing watershed management plans and facilitating regulations accordingly. Preparing water master plans along with water allocation schemes. Promoting public awareness on the use and management of water resources. Undertaking water resources assessment and planning including surveying, monitoring, research and development. Advising the Minister in relation to water related emergencies

6. Activities and Projects Daily collection of agro-meteorological data from five (5) stations; Monthly data collection from approximately twenty (20) rainfall loggers; Maintenance of rainfall stations; Spot measurements along major rivers; Stakeholder consultations conducted regarding issuance of abstraction licences; Issuance of abstraction licences based on investigations and existing data Awareness campaigns carried out at primary and secondary schools on the role of Water Resource Management Agency and the importance of water.

7. Government of Australia Enhancing Early Warning Systems and Hydrological Monitoring for Water Management and Disaster Risk Reduction -Component 1: Early warning systems and hydrological monitoring -Suitable equipment to support the existing network -Suitable equipment for water level monitoring in flood-prone watersheds -Training of community members in vulnerable areas for effective functioning of a flood warning system Activities and Projects

8. -Component 2: Water augmentation during water crisis -Hydro-geological studies and equipment -Training in use of software to model study aquifer(s) based on data acquired -Determination of safe, potable sources of water for use during times of crisis -Component 3: Waste control to reduce water pollution -Identification of sources of solid and liquid waste discharge into any land, sewer or drain, bore or water -Hot spot characterization -Inventory of waste disposal sites to aid in the declaration of waste control areas as required by the Water and Sewerage Act Ch 9.03 Activities and Projects

9. Challenges/opportunities  Visibility of the Agency  Synergies with other relevant agencies  Political will  Agency staff  Data availability

10. THANK YOU