Mauritius Water Crisis: CWA Deploys 35 Tankers as Reserves Run Low

Mauritius is facing a serious water supply crisis, with reservoir levels dropping to worrying lows across the island. In response, the Ministry of Energy and Public Utilities and the Central Water Authority (CWA) — the government body responsible for water distribution in Mauritius — have launched emergency measures to keep the most affected communities supplied. Speaking at a press briefing, Energy and Public Utilities Minister Patrick Assirvaden confirmed that around 35 tanker trucks have been mobilised, including high-capacity vehicles able to carry up to 25 cubic metres (25,000 litres) of water per trip. The minister warned that the situation could deteriorate further in the coming days, and that remaining reserves will need to be carefully managed through to December. **Private Tanker Owners Called In** To bolster this emergency logistics operation, the CWA has issued an official registration notice inviting private tanker truck owners to join the effort. Vehicles must meet a strict set of requirements to qualify: - A minimum tank capacity of 5 cubic metres (5,000 litres) - A valid Class A water carrier permit - A pump with a flow rate of at least 1,000 litres per minute - At least three distribution taps - Up-to-date fitness and road tax certificates Interested owners are asked to collect registration forms from the CWA secretariat. **What This Means for Residents** For households in areas already experiencing reduced or intermittent water supply, the deployment of tanker trucks offers some short-term relief — but it is not a permanent fix. The minister's warning that conditions may worsen before they improve suggests that residents should expect continued disruptions and prepare accordingly by storing water where possible. The reliance on private contractors also highlights the scale of the crisis: the CWA's own fleet is insufficient to cover demand across all affected zones simultaneously. Water shortages in Mauritius typically intensify during the dry season, which runs roughly from May to November, before rainfall from the summer cyclone season replenishes reservoirs. However, erratic rainfall patterns in recent years have made it harder to predict when — or whether — reserves will recover. Authorities have not yet announced whether water rationing schedules will be introduced or expanded, but residents in vulnerable areas — particularly those in higher-elevation zones where supply pressure is naturally lower — are advised to monitor official CWA communications closely. Source: ION News