Water in the World: Interdisciplinary Approaches to Access and Sustainability

“The Social and Economic Impact of Water Scarcity: The case of St. Vincent and the Grenadines”

DIGS 220

Water scarcity is a serious concern in developing countries, such as those in the Caribbean. Among Small Island Developing States (SIDS), the Caribbean has the least amount of fresh water available per person (Caribbean Environmental Health Institute, 2007). On a per capita basis, the region has 13% of the water available in the Indian Ocean SIDS and only 1.7% of that available in the islands of the South Pacific. The availability of fresh water reserves in the Caribbean is in part limited by the mountainous terrain of many of the islands and frequent natural disasters which often cut off the water supply to homes. Water is a critical resource for social and economic development of the Caribbean islands, including St. Vincent and the Grenadines where the main economic drivers are agriculture and tourism. These industries are essentially non-existent without the ample supply of water. For example, during the 2009 severe drought the quality and quantity of bananas produced were severely impacted. This had a downward effect on the extent to which bananas from this region were able to compete on any global market. Adequate and consistent supply of clean water is also needed to support the tourist industry, through hotels, restaurants and other tourist attractions. The social impact of water scarcity also runs deep. The scarcity of water does not only affect the production of food for export but also for local consumption. Food production that is threatened by scarcity of water therefore threatens the food security of Vincentians as well as change the patterns of food consumption. It also affects the livelihood of farmers and their families. The country of St. Vincent and the Grenadines has a poverty rate of 35% which means that a large share of the population rely on the land for economic survival. When water scarcity restricts the growth of their cash crops many farmers are not able to meet the needs of their families. The scarcity of fresh water also has a public health impact. Given the social and economic implications of water scarcity in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, more attention must be brought to the issue in an effort to mitigate its effects. This presentation session is designed to fill that gap. Four presentations will constitute the session. The first presentation will focus on the social and economic impact of water scarcity on Vincentians. The second will highlight the nutritional implications of water scarcity on Vincentians. The third presentation will present results from data collected in St. Vincent and the Grenadines on water use and the social adaptation to water scarcity. The final presentation will provide a conceptual model for social work response to water scarcity in the Caribbean and provide lessons for poor neighborhoods in the U.S.