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St-Paul Residents Queue With Buckets as Water Tankers Step In
Families in St-Paul, Mauritius, are relying on CWA water tankers to meet basic needs as the island's water shortage bites harder.
By MauritiusNews Editorialabout 2 hours agoπ 0 views
Residents of St-Paul, a locality in the north of Mauritius, have been forced to collect their daily water supply from tanker trucks β buckets and basins in hand β as the island's ongoing water crisis continues to affect communities across the country.
Images from the area show locals lining up alongside a Central Water Authority (CWA) tanker, filling whatever containers they have available. It is a scene that has become increasingly common in parts of Mauritius as reservoir levels remain critically low.
**A wider crisis, felt at the doorstep**
The situation in St-Paul is not isolated. Mauritius has been grappling with a significant water supply crisis driven by below-average rainfall, ageing infrastructure, and high demand during the dry season. The CWA β the government body responsible for water supply and distribution on the island β has deployed dozens of tanker trucks across affected regions to maintain some level of access for households that have seen their taps run dry or flow only intermittently.
Earlier this month, the CWA confirmed it had mobilised 35 tankers across the island as dam and reservoir levels dropped to concerning levels. For many families, these tankers have become the only reliable source of water for cooking, washing, and sanitation.
**What this means for residents**
For households in affected areas like St-Paul, the daily routine has changed dramatically. Instead of turning on a tap, residents must monitor tanker schedules, carry containers to collection points, and ration water carefully. Elderly residents and those without transport face particular difficulty.
The reliance on tanker distribution also raises hygiene concerns, as water stored in open buckets and basins at home is more vulnerable to contamination than piped supply.
Businesses, schools, and health facilities in water-restricted zones are also under pressure to manage reduced supply.
**What the authorities are doing**
The CWA has been implementing rotational water cuts β restricting supply to certain areas on a scheduled basis β as a conservation measure. The authority has urged residents to use water sparingly and to report leaks or wastage.
Longer-term, Mauritius has invested in desalination projects and pipeline upgrades, but these solutions take time to come online. In the short term, tanker distribution remains the stopgap keeping communities like St-Paul supplied.
The government has faced criticism for the slow pace of infrastructure investment relative to the island's growing population and climate-related rainfall variability, which is making dry seasons longer and more severe.
Source: Le Defi Media
Mauritius is experiencing a water crisis caused by below-average rainfall, low reservoir levels, and ageing distribution infrastructure. The Central Water Authority (CWA) has implemented rotational water cuts across the island and deployed over 35 tanker trucks to supply affected communities.
What is the CWA doing to help residents without water in Mauritius?β
The Central Water Authority (CWA) has deployed a fleet of water tanker trucks to communities across Mauritius, including areas like St-Paul in the north, to distribute water to households affected by cuts. Residents collect water directly from the tankers using buckets and containers.
Where is St-Paul in Mauritius?β
St-Paul is a locality in the northern region of Mauritius, near the town of Rivière du Rempart. It is a residential area that, like many parts of the island, has been affected by the ongoing water supply crisis.
