Mauritius' water supply runs very low. As a small island, it is affected by tropical cyclones, rising temperatures, increasing sea level and a warming ocean. The rainfall levels have dropped by 8% in the past 10 years.
The country's reservoirs are currently only about 38.2%, compared to 92.6% in February 2024. The population increased from 479,000 in the 1950s to over 1.26 million in 2022. The greater demand for water has put pressure on already tense resources.
It is predicted that Dürren in Mauritius becomes harder and more common. This will trigger serious shortage of water that disrupt agriculture and influence the livelihood and well -being of the local communities. The current shortage of water has already influenced itself in the regions of the central plateau and the coast – business, industry and agriculture.
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These problems are part of a wider trend in small island development states. Mauritius has set up strict restrictions against water for washing cars, sidewalks or buildings or filling swimming pools. There are fines of 50,000 Mauritian -Rupien (1,162 US dollars) up to 200,000 rupees (around 4,653 US dollars) for people who do not meet.
The irrigation of sugar cane was also suspended, although this is of crucial importance for the island's economy.
However, these restrictions are not sufficient to solve the water shortage. We are part of a team of researchers from Mauritius, France, the USA and Kenya. In Mauritius we have examined possibilities how the country can adapt its water systems to climate change.
We have examined whether it would be helpful to capture river drains – water from rivers that flow into the sea when it rains. We identified water -related areas, rivers, settlements as well as the height and incline of the country on the entire island. Then we combined this information with an analysis of precipitation trends over 89 years (from 1931 to 2020) and other factors.
Our research recommends that the government build 10 reservoirs in places where they can use natural water flows. These were able to store a total of 500,000 cubic meters of water, which would provide people during dry times.
Although this is the amount of water currently used for about two days, the reservoirs would provide a useful amount of tides in the event of severe water shortages, even if water restrictions were used.
Rainwater waste on small islands
Small tropical islands like Mauritius mainly rely on rivers, streams and groundwater for their water supply. But pumping too much groundwater through boreholes can exhaust it. The water infrastructure is also old and in 2020 60% of the water was lost through leaky pipes.
Water is often supplied by watercrots to drought. But that is very expensive and the trucks cannot carry enough water to meet the needs of everyone. It is not a permanent solution.
On the other hand, when it rains on small islands, the rivers are wasted quickly and a large part of the rainwater by flowing into the sea. Mini reservoirs that are strategically located throughout Mauritius could capture seasonal peak river flows.
Based on our local knowledge of the pricing for the construction of such Mini Reservoir systems, we estimate that ten of them would cost around $ 100 million. This is a large amount for a small island station, but the reservoirs would help the country in the dry months. If more reservoirs are littered across the country, the administration of water systems also facilitates.
What must happen next
Our research illuminates that Mauritius must move quickly and use different approaches to strengthen its water safety.
First of all, we recommend that the government of Mauritius Blended Finance should check to collect the money required for the reservoirs. For example, it could receive public concessional financing of companies such as the Green Climate Fund, in which part of the financial is a loan and a part is a grant that does not have to be repaid.
The Mauritius government could also look for technical support and co -finance agreements from multilateral institutions such as regional development banks.
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The use of solutions inspired by nature and the inclusion of communities can help to build long -term resilience towards drought. For example, when community members come together to clean up and restore wetlands, this helps the soil to get more water when rain. Growing urban forests can also help.
In built -up areas, water -sensitive urban design such as green roofs, permeable walkways and rain gardens can help soak into the ground to fill underground groundwater conductors.
Cooperation with local communities to save water at home is crucial because most water are used at home in Mauritius. The course of water pipes, for example, is an outstanding problem with the non -improved aging of water systems. By repairing leaks and initiatives in the community, large amounts of water can save water.
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The Mauritius government must set up guidelines that enable partnerships with the private sector. Subsidiary financing through international climate coitiatives should be combined with investments from the private sector to adapt the country's water systems. For example, the height of the country's dam must be increased so that it can store more water.
In densely populated urban centers such as Port Louis, it is important to install intelligent water management technologies. This includes intelligent water knives that prevent water waste by transmitting information about water levels and leaks to a water supplier as well as the remote sensing and geographical information systems that monitor how much water is used and where it is waste.
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This and infrastructure upgrades such as the replacement of old and leaky pipes and the expansion of rainwater networks can reduce a lot of waste.
Coping with escalating drought crises in small island states requires a mixture of innovative infrastructure development, solutions that are resident in nature (such as rainwater harvest), support and active participation of local communities and strong governance.
By promoting international cooperation and support, these regions in need of protection can build up greater resilience and ensure a sustainable water future.