The government of Mauritius has introduced a new six-week Water-Saving Toolkit to encourage water conservation across the island. The initiative was launched on November 4 at the Water Stewardship Forum in Ébène, which brought together private sector leaders and public decision-makers to address water security and business preparedness. The forum was hosted in partnership with the Mauritius Chamber of Agriculture. The toolkit aims to promote water-wise habits among staff at work and home.
The launch of the toolkit comes as the country's water reserves continue to dwindle. In October, the filling level of the Mare-aux-Vacoas reservoir dropped below 33%, with projections indicating it could hover around 20% in November if rainfall deficits persist. Minister of Energy and Public Utilities, Patrick Assirvaden, delivered a concerning assessment of the nation's water reserves. To address the issue, the government is undertaking a 20-day project to connect Tamarin Falls to La Marie, which holds several million cubic meters of water.
The government has also implemented additional emergency measures to bolster the water supply. Four new boreholes have been drilled, injecting 11,200 cubic meters of water daily into the network. The boreholes are located in Trianon, Côte-d'Or, Soniawear, and Universal Fabrics in Valentina, serving areas including Beau-Bassin, Saint-Pierre, Moka, Highlands, and Phoenix. Furthermore, the country operates 60 containerised pressure filter units, providing 136,500 cubic meters of capacity, with 15 more units ordered for delivery by the end of 2026.
The water crisis poses a significant threat to the island's economy, particularly in sectors such as agriculture, industry, tourism, services, and food security. Business Mauritius emphasized that water constraints disrupt operations, create extra costs, and complicate compliance with health standards. Philippe Espitalier-Noël, Chairperson of the Business Mauritius Sustainability and Inclusive Growth Commission, stressed that a business cannot prosper sustainably in a community that lacks access to essentials like water.
The newly introduced Water-Saving Toolkit is a six-week program designed for human resources and communications teams to promote water conservation among staff. The toolkit includes communication materials, group activities, and family engagement proposals adaptable to businesses of all sizes. Amandine Hardowar de Rosnay, Head of Sustainability and Inclusive Growth at Business Mauritius, emphasized that awareness must be accompanied by equipment maintenance, infrastructure upgrades, and targeted investments.
The agricultural sector is also taking steps to mitigate the crisis. According to Jacqueline Sauzier, General Secretary of the Mauritius Chamber of Agriculture, irrigation reservoirs are being diverted for domestic use, and sugarcane watering has been banned. Farmers are also using water flowing toward the sea for more efficient irrigation and investing in catchment units. Sauzier highlighted the need for national lifestyle changes, calling current domestic consumption levels unsustainable.
Business Mauritius has proposed establishing a joint technical water committee with the Ministry and the Central Water Authority to monitor immediate needs and long-term challenges. The committee aims to coordinate ongoing responses and develop strategies to address the water crisis. Key stakeholders are working together to address the crisis, with a focus on promoting water conservation and finding sustainable solutions.
Key points
- Mauritius' water reservoir levels have dropped below 33%, prompting the launch of a six-week Water-Saving Toolkit.
- The toolkit aims to promote water-wise habits among staff at work and home, with adaptable proposals for businesses of all sizes.
- The water crisis poses a significant threat to the island's economy, particularly in sectors such as agriculture, industry, tourism, services, and food security.
