Water Resources Management

within the context of Climate Change:

The Case of a Small Island
Developing State (SIDS)
Geoffrey Marshall
Hydrogeologist
Water Resources Authority
Jamaica

Location

07/27/16

Presentation at a workshop on Challenges and Opportunities in Climate

Change Adaptation for the Water Sector: Elements for a Regional Agenda

Water Resources of Jamaica

Island divided into 10 hydrologic basins
Hydrostratigraphy determines the water type
Primary supply is from ground water
sourced from limestone aquifers-western
two thirds of the island
Eastern one third of the island has an
abundance of surface water resources i.e.
rivers and streams.
07/27/16

Presentation at a workshop on Challenges and Opportunities in Climate

Change Adaptation for the Water Sector: Elements for a Regional Agenda

07/27/16

Presentation at a workshop on Challenges and Opportunities in Climate

Change Adaptation for the Water Sector: Elements for a Regional Agenda

Hydrostratigraphy

07/27/16

Presentation at a workshop on Challenges and Opportunities in Climate

Change Adaptation for the Water Sector: Elements for a Regional Agenda

Well and River Locations

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Presentation at a workshop on Challenges and Opportunities in Climate

Change Adaptation for the Water Sector: Elements for a Regional Agenda

Groundwater Monitoring

07/27/16

Total-282: Limestone Aquifer-191: Alluvium

aquifer-91

Presentation at a workshop on Challenges and Opportunities in Climate

Change Adaptation for the Water Sector: Elements for a Regional Agenda

Surface Water monitoring

Total monitoring points-117R-52 (Loggers-27); NR-43; Spot-22

07/27/16

Presentation at a workshop on Challenges and Opportunities in Climate

Change Adaptation for the Water Sector: Elements for a Regional Agenda

07/27/16

Presentation at a workshop on Challenges and Opportunities in Climate

Change Adaptation for the Water Sector: Elements for a Regional Agenda

Jamaica-Groundwater
Pollution Monitoring

07/27/16

Presentation at a workshop on Challenges and Opportunities in Climate

Change Adaptation for the Water Sector: Elements for a Regional Agenda

10

Water Availability and Use

Exploitable Groundwater
Limestone Aquifer---3281.85 MCM/yr
Alluvium Aquifer----- 136.75 MCM/yr
Total-------------------3418.60 MCM/yr
Surface water
Total-------------------- 664.9 MCM/yr

07/27/16

Presentation at a workshop on Challenges and Opportunities in Climate

Change Adaptation for the Water Sector: Elements for a Regional Agenda

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Water Used/Unused
Used
Groundwater-----------840.5 MCM/yr
Surface water---------- 76.5 MCM/yr
Total---------------------917.0 MCM/yr
Unused Reliable Yield
Groundwater----------2579.3 MCM/yr
Surface water----------- 592.6 MCM/yr
Total---------------------- 3171.9 MCM/yr
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Change Adaptation for the Water Sector: Elements for a Regional Agenda

12

Vulnerability of SIDS
Small but rapidly increasing populations
Strongly impacted by tropical
storms/hurricanes.
High variability in precipitation patterns
Caribbean Tectonic Plate with
implications for earthquakes and
tsunami
07/27/16

Presentation at a workshop on Challenges and Opportunities in Climate

Change Adaptation for the Water Sector: Elements for a Regional Agenda

13

Vulnerability of SIDS
Geology and topography which
influence rainfall, stream and karstic
basin flooding and landslides
Hydrostratigraphy which influence the
location and extent of aquifers and
aquicludes and together with the
spatial and temporal distribution of
rainfall determine water availability
07/27/16

Presentation at a workshop on Challenges and Opportunities in Climate

Change Adaptation for the Water Sector: Elements for a Regional Agenda

14

07/27/16

Presentation at a workshop on Challenges and Opportunities in Climate

Change Adaptation for the Water Sector: Elements for a Regional Agenda

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Importance and Significance of

Water in SIDS
SIDS rely on any or all of groundwater, surface
water or rainfall (depending on size and
topography).
Input for all natural water resources is
precipitation.
Changes in precipitation patterns would have a
significant effect on water resources
recharge/storage and availability.
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Change Adaptation for the Water Sector: Elements for a Regional Agenda

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Interconnection with Water

Resources
Energy and food security, environmental
sustainability, economic development all
depend on a reliable water supply.
Solutions for these issues, if conceived in
isolation without considering climate
change impacts on water will be selfdefeating.
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Change Adaptation for the Water Sector: Elements for a Regional Agenda

17

Climate Change Scenario Analysis

in Jamaica
High Probability that temperatures will
increase, based on general results from
GCMs.
Most GCM models show decrease in
precipitation by 2050 peaking in 2080,
though magnitude varies from model to
model.
07/27/16

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Change Adaptation for the Water Sector: Elements for a Regional Agenda

18

Threats to Water Sector from

Climate Change

Longer and more intense dry

season
Increase in frequency of high
intensity rainfall-increased
flooding and landslides
Watersheds-poor agricultural
practices increase
vulnerability-increased erosion
and turbidity of streams
Agriculture especially nonirrigated will be severely
impacted
Sea level rise-coastal
flooding/higher storm surges
will affect coastal aquifers.

07/27/16

Presentation at a workshop on Challenges and Opportunities in Climate

Change Adaptation for the Water Sector: Elements for a Regional Agenda

19

Adapting Water Resource

Management to Climate Change
Both Mitigation and Adaptation methods
needed, with more emphasis on
Adaptation.
Strategies are needed at the local,
regional and national levels.

07/27/16

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Change Adaptation for the Water Sector: Elements for a Regional Agenda

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Options to reduce Water Sector

Vulnerability to Climate Change
Increase and maintain investment in
hydrological data collection and
monitoring.
Fund research into adopting planning
methods for water resources and supply.
Develop appropriate modeling tools to
assist strategic planning of resources.
07/27/16

Presentation at a workshop on Challenges and Opportunities in Climate

Change Adaptation for the Water Sector: Elements for a Regional Agenda

21

Options, continued
Develop national flood risk mapping to
support emergency operations and land use
planning.
Support and fund increased water use
efficiency across all water use sectors.
Merge government agencies responsible for
land and water management.

07/27/16

Presentation at a workshop on Challenges and Opportunities in Climate

Change Adaptation for the Water Sector: Elements for a Regional Agenda

22

Societys Response
Solutions to these water problems lie with
decision makers in other parts of society.
Need for understanding of water issues
and outside-the-box thinking to
implement adaptation measures.

07/27/16

Presentation at a workshop on Challenges and Opportunities in Climate

Change Adaptation for the Water Sector: Elements for a Regional Agenda

23

Conclusions
Keyword for adapting to impacts of climate
change on water resources is resilience.
Priority should be no-regret and lowregret measures.
Increased/improved water resources
monitoring cannot be over-emphasized.
More financial support must be provided
for this.
07/27/16

Presentation at a workshop on Challenges and Opportunities in Climate

Change Adaptation for the Water Sector: Elements for a Regional Agenda

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