Water Resources
Management:
Water Conservation Methods.
Alexious Rolle Dept. of
Statistics
Environmental Statistics
Water Resources
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 the freshwater
lenses within 5-ft (1.5-m) of the surface.
Rainfall for The Bahamas
What is different about the Water
Resources in The Bahamas?

Hydrogeology

Freshwater
Lenses with
Unique
Characteristics
. Unique
Geology.
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.
RAIN
LOSSES TO
EVAPOTRANSPIRATION
RUN OFF
TO THE SEA
SEA
RECHARGE
AERATED ROCK
GROUND W
FRESHWATER LENS IN
SATURATED ROCK
ATER L
EVEL
SEA
BRACKISH WATER
HIGHLY SALINE WATER
Diagram of a Freshwater Lens in an Oceanic Island
(Like The Bahamas)
Table: Freshwater Resources
Bahamas
National Accounts Statistics
GROSS VALUE ADDED BY INDUSTRIAL ORIGIN
WATER INDUSTRY
(B$ thousands)
OUTPUT
INDUSTRY
INTERMEDIATE
CONSUMPTION
GROSS
NET
GROSS
VALUE ADDED
INDIRE
C
T
AT MARKET
TAXES
PRICES
DEPRECIATIO
N
NET
WAGES
NET
VALUE ADDED
VALUE
AND
OPERATI
NG
AT FACTOR
ADDED
SALARIES
SURPLUS
COST
2000
38,635
19,400
19,235
0
19,235
5,547
13,688
15,747
-2,059
2001
39,818
18,954
20,864
-5,206
26,070
5,397
20,673
14,777
5,896
2002
45,127
18,468
26,660
-3,600
30,260
5,734
24,525
17,691
6,834
2003
42,102
22,361
19,741
-4,680
24,421
5,585
18,836
17,714
1,122
2004
46,046
22,289
23,757
-4,188
27,945
6,215
21,730
18,779
2,951
2005
47,725
29,495
18,231
-3,748
21,979
6,389
15,590
19,970
-4,380
The Bahamas
Water Resource Vulnerability
1.
Ease of access and overexploitation. Saline intrusion.
2.
Easily damaged or destroyed by
Canals, borrow pits, rock mining.
3.
Prone to inundation. Storm surges, and sea level rise.
4.
Easily polluted:
mans
activities.
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!
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.
Water Resources Assessment of The
Bahamas
LATEST UPDATE



Produced By:- U.S. Army Corp’s of Engineers
Using Existing Data and Reports.
Approved by Government.
Website:
http://www.sam.usace.army.mil/en/wra/Bahamas/Bahamas.html