While the island is experiencing a significant rainfall deficit and certain sectors are in tension, residents and farmers are trying to adapt their uses to the situation. Example in Saint-André, already affected by cuts this year.
In this Saint-André market, the question of lack of water constantly comes up in discussions among market gardeners at the start of a very dry month of November.
“When we see the rivers, the ravines, if it continues like this, it will no longer be supplied with water” deplores this producer-merchant. “We avoid wasting, we water by hand, we don’t use automatic watering.”
“We are five to six months without water”observes this fairground,“the plants will dry out, you have to be very careful.”
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©Alix Catherine
While the prefecture once again launched a “call for responsible consumption” this Thursday, October 31, the people of Reunion are getting organized.
“We make do with what we have. When it rains we water the plants and flowers a little,” explains this Saint-André.
“We use rainwater, so when there’s none, we don’t use it. We put in wood mulch”adds this farmer.
“There are a lot of plants that don’t hold up”
A semi-organic producer on the Saint-André market
“There are a lot of plants that are not holding up and we cannot harvest”laments this market gardener. “Chinese cabbage, salad, kale, you need a lot of water…”
“We do semi-organic, without fertilizers or pesticides, just chicken manure, but then we harvest nothing. We have to take running water, or we stock up with bins. But a tank of 1000 L, it doesn't last a year.”
Despite everything, the Saint-Andréans try to demonstrate sobriety in their daily lives.
“In these periods, when it's hot before the rains, we try to be careful, we try to collect the rainwater with a water collector. At 100 euros there are some good ones. When the water was cut off, we were not surprised” explains Sandrina.
Julie is also ready: “I won’t water my plants or wash my car. We have a bottle that filters the water, we use that to save money. It’s going to rain eventually”she hopes.
“We use a lot of water but we have no choice, that’s the job.”
Camilla, hairdresser in Saint-André
For Camilla, a hairdresser by profession, makes efforts in her daily life. “We heard, we thought that water restrictions were over. But apparently not. At home, we don't use too much water, we don't wash cars anymore, the garden is dry because we rarely water.”
At work, however, it is more difficult. “In the salon it's not possible, we use a lot of water but we have no choice, it's the job. We need hot water. We are the job that consumes the most apart the farmers perhaps”she admits.
Director of the prefect's office, Parvine Lacombe, summarizes this worrying situation. “January 2024 was in surplus, but the following months were in deficit and the rainfall forecasts are not favorable”she emphasizes. “There are sectors in tension, from the Port to Plaine-des-Palmistes, from the heights of the West to the heights of the East, with an imbalance between resources and needs.”
So much so that some municipalities have already issued orders limiting uses or even experienced cuts like in Saint-Paul, Sainte-Marie, Cilaos or Trois-Bassins.
At this point, however, “the situation does not require taking general or departmental measures, but we must encourage the people of Reunion to be sober and reduce non-essential water consumption, for example washing your car, your yard or watering your garden. his gardenrecalls the chief of staff of the prefect.
Already in August, a first call for responsible consumption had been broadcast, in the hope of holding out until the arrival of the rainy season.
