Abordando la Escasez de Agua en Barbados: Estrés, Innovación y Resiliencias

Community Description

The small island developing state of Barbados is located in the eastern Caribbean with a population of approximately 282,000 and a total land area of 166 mi2. Economic activity on the island is dominated by the service sector, especially tourism and financial services (Michigan State University, 2024). Although Barbados is classified as high-income with a high level of human development, the country is vulnerable to multiple dimensions of climate threat, including acute weather events, rising sea levels, ocean acidification, beach erosion, and water scarcity (Leal Filho et al., 2021; USAID 2021; UNDP 2021). Compared to other climate-related effects, water scarcity is relatively unacknowledged; therefore, in this case study we seek to describe water challenges in Barbados, mental health impacts, and multifaceted responses to illustrate adaptations to water scarcity.

Water Scarcity in Barbados

Barbados relies almost entirely on groundwater, with 82% of its water supply sourced from aquifers and the remaining 18% from brackish water desalination. The estimated renewable water resources per capita per year in Barbados stand at 279 m3. Falling below the threshold of 500 m3 per capita per year categorises Barbados as experiencing absolute water scarcity using the Falkenmark index (Falkenmark et al., 1989). Barbados experiences both looding and drought, which are likely to increase as a function of climate change (Climate Studies Group Mona, 2020). Moreover, climate projections indicate a drying trend of approximately 6% by 2050, as well as sea level rise in the range of 0.17-0.38 m for 2046 – 2065 (Climate Studies Group Mona, 2020). The cumulative effect will be water quality degradation due to saline intrusion and more pronounced declines in groundwater levels. Security of groundwater-reliant supply is further compromised by faltering infrastructure, management challenges, and rising costs (Cashman, 2017).

The issue of water shortages is particularly acute in the island’s northern parishes, where residents are faced with salty and turbid water for drinking and washing. In many instances, water tankers are deployed to provide reprieve from disruptions of water service.