1. Water Resources Management: Water Conservation Methods. Alexious Rolle Dept. of Statistics Environmental Statistics Water Resources

2. Water Resource Challenges: The Commonwealth of the Bahamas All freshwater is in the form of groundwater. Only three islands with significant water resources. Some small islands have no freshwater. Uneven and seasonal distribution of rainfall (North & North Central Rainfall: 50-60 in/yr (1,270-1,524 mm/yr), South Rainfall: 36 in/yr (914 mm/yr); Pronounced Wet Season: May to October). Most communities located away from resources. Need for high cost alternatives (Reverse Osmosis). Vulnerability of water resources; 90% of thefreshwater lenses within 5-ft (1.5-m) of the surface.

3. Rainfall for The Bahamas

4. What is different about the Water Resources in The Bahamas? Hydrogeology Freshwater Lenses with Unique Characteristics. Unique Geology.

5. Water Resources of The Bahamas The groundwater resources of the Commonwealth comprise the fresh, brackish, saline and hypersaline waters found in the near and deep subsurface and in the lakes and ponds that intercept the surface. The freshwater resources occur as three-dimensional lens-shaped bodies, which overlie brackish and saline waters at depth.

6. Table: Freshwater Resources

7. Bahamas National Accounts Statistics GROSS VALUE ADDED BY INDUSTRIAL ORIGIN WATER INDUSTRY (B$ thousands) OUTPUTINTERMEDIATEGROSSNETGROSS DEPRECIATIO NNETWAGESNET INDUSTRY CONSUMPTIONVALUE ADDED INDIRE C TVALUE ADDED VALUEAND OPERATI NG AT MARKETTAXESAT FACTOR ADDEDSALARIESSURPLUS PRICES COST 200038,63519,40019,2350 5,54713,68815,747-2,059 200139,81818,95420,864-5,20626,0705,39720,67314,7775,896 200245,12718,46826,660-3,60030,2605,73424,52517,6916,834 200342,10222,36119,741-4,68024,4215,58518,83617,7141,122 200446,04622,28923,757-4,18827,9456,21521,73018,7792,951 200547,72529,49518,231-3,74821,9796,38915,59019,970-4,380

8. The Bahamas Water Resource Vulnerability 1. Ease of access and overexploitation. Saline intrusion. 2. Easily damaged or destroyed by mans activities. Canals, borrow pits, rock mining. 3. Prone to inundation. Storm surges, and sea level rise. 4. Easily polluted: A.) Close water table B.) Rock porosity and permeability C.) Lacking soils D.) Internal drainage E.) Scarce disposal sites in small island environment. Dumping habits, and lack of mains sewerage. Difficult and Costly Clean Up!

9. Water Conservation Tips, to save water and money: Toilet flushing accounts for 40% of the water usage each day. Showers and baths account for 35% of the water usage each day. Laundry and dishwashing account for 20% of the water usage each day. Drinking and cooking account for the additional 5% of the water usage per day. (NOTE) Water your lawn in the early mornings and only when necessary. In our climate the lawn only requires water every 5-7 days, during the summer months.

10. Water Resources Assessment of The Bahamas LATEST UPDATE Produced By:- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Using Existing Data and Reports. Approved by Government. Website: http://www.sam.usace.army.mil/en/wra/Bahamas/Bahamas.html