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At Casa de Campo we are extremely fortunate to have had an uninterrupted supply of water this Summer, considering the widespread drought that has been prevalent in the Caribbean. However, it should come to our attention that our luck might not be eternal, as projections show that the Dominican Republic might not be in the clear just yet and that the drought may extend itself onto 2016. Given this reality, Costasur has recently shared news about how the resort plans to control the use of this valuable resource for common areas, and encourages villa owners to become aware of this grave situation in order to take personal measures.
Given the issue at hand, at Casa de Campo Living we are partnering with Costasur to periodically share information, tips and news in hopes that villa owner awareness of the water scarcity in the area increases and adequate measures are taken at each residence. Before jumping onto what you can do in your homes and how this problem might affect you, lets put it into context:
What is going on in the Caribbean?
2015 has witnessed a Caribbean Drought affecting the islands from Cuba to Trinidad and Tobago. It has been the worst drought in five years caused by a particularly harsh El Niño, a warming of the tropical Pacific that affects global weather. The situation is further aggravated by the presence of an abnormal amount of dust and dry air over the southern Atlantic.
As a result crops are withering, reservoirs are drying up and cattle are dying while forecasters worry that the situation could only grow worse in the coming months.
What is going on in the Dominican Republic?
In the Dominican Republic, communities in Santo Domingo didn’t have water in the pipes for a couple of months, farmers in agricultural lands have been unable to plant basic grains like black beans and export crops such as mangoes have had huge losses. In the southwest stream beds have dried up, exposing sharp rocks and white sand, and no water is flowing through a channel built to supply the mango farms, for example.
Projections
There is at least a 90 percent chance that El Nino, will last through the winter and an 80 percent chance it will endure into spring 2016, according to the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Climate change is a reality and it is most likely to make droughts a multiyear and multi decade phenomenon in the near future.
What is Costasur doing?
Costasur – Casa de Campo has begun implementing a water management plan which includes important investments in golf course and commongreen areas automated irrigation systems, establishment of policies and best practices aimed at reducing operational water consumption, and a communications program oriented towards motivating the community members and employees to adopt rationale water consumption practices.
What can and should you do about this?
Considering the regional and local water scarcity situation, we must admit that water is a pretty cheap resource at the moment. We are likely to be able to afford the purchase of the water we consume in our homes, but affording it should not mean that we are to be unconscious of our responsibility for safeguarding the resource for our short and medium term future. It’s only in our best interest. (Did you know that the water scarcity in our neighboring island of Puerto Rico has led to some of the most upscale neighborhoods to go without water for days?)
It is our responsibility to make a wise and rationale use of it. It’s availability and sustainability for our future generations will greatly depend on the responsible use we give it today.
Let’s all consider the rational use of water in our homes by following these useful tips:
1. Educate your family and staff about the reality of the situation. Let’s raise awareness and increase consciousness of the problem.
2. Avoid irrational use of your lawn’s sprinkler system. Please do not leave your sprinkler on for hours on end. If watering the garden is necessary, aim to do so in the very early morning or late afternoon as the sun is setting. Watering your lawn during the daytime results in evaporation of much of the water sprinkled.
3. Consider the rational use of water for household needs. Ask you home’s staff to consolidate your loads of laundry and remember to close the faucet if not in use.
We hope to bring you more useful tips about what you can do in your home, and that these may help raise awareness. We also congratulate Costasur-Casa de Campo for implementing changes in the corporation’s use of this precious resource.
The solution to this problem is in each of our homes and hands. Let’s pool together to address this very real problem that affects us all.