In most years, somewhere between February and May, the taps in parts of Grenada start running on a schedule. Rivers and springs that feed the island's water systems drop, NAWASA regulates valves to share what is left, and some communities find the pipe dry for whole afternoons or several days at a stretch. In May 2026, NAWASA warned that some of its stream sources were producing as much as 60 per cent less than normal and that close to half of the island's water systems were under valve regulation.
Households that cope best treat the dry season as a routine rather than an emergency. They know how much water they use, how long their storage lasts, and which daily habits can be changed without anyone noticing much. This piece sets out that routine, from measuring your tank to reusing washing water on the garden, with an eye on what tends to go wrong.
How supply works when the rivers drop
Most of Grenada's public water comes from surface sources: rivers, streams and dams in the central mountains, treated and piped downhill to towns and villages. A smaller share comes from wells, mainly in the south, and Carriacou depends far more on rainwater cisterns and desalination. When rainfall drops in the dry season, stream output falls quickly, and NAWASA shifts to valve regulation, opening and closing supply to different zones in turn so that each area gets some water each day or each few days.
Schedules change as conditions change, and areas at the end of long pipelines or on higher ground often lose pressure first. Wells near the coast are not a full answer either: in 2026 NAWASA had to take a well in St David out of service after salt water intruded and raised salinity. The practical point for households is that the supply you get in March may be very different from January, and announcements from NAWASA through radio, its customer notices and local news are the only reliable guide to your zone's timing.
Step one: know your numbers
You cannot manage stored water without knowing how much you have and how fast it goes. An afternoon with a bucket and a calculator answers both questions.
- Find the capacity of each tank or cistern. Plastic tanks usually have the gallon size moulded on the side; for a concrete cistern, multiply length, width and depth in feet by about six to get approximate imperial gallons, or ask the builder.
- Note the water level on a full day, then again 24 hours later without any refill. The difference is your daily use.
- Divide the usable storage by daily use. That is how many days you can last with no supply at all.
- Compare that with the longest gap your area has had in previous dry seasons. If your storage covers less than that gap, either add capacity or cut daily use.
- Repeat the measurement after making changes to see what difference they make.
Daily habits that save the most
Showers, not baths, and shorter. A running shower uses several gallons a minute. A five-minute shower with the tap off while soaping saves more than any other single change. Many families switch to a bucket and cup bath in the worst weeks, a habit many older Grenadians grew up with.
Full loads only. Washing machines are among the biggest users in a home. Run them only full, use the short cycle, and save the rinse water for flushing or for the garden.
Flush with grey water. Pouring a bucket of used shower or washing water into the toilet bowl flushes it effectively and saves clean water. Many households keep a bucket in the shower to catch water while it warms up.
Wash dishes in a basin. Fill one basin to wash and one to rinse rather than running the tap. The rinse water can go on plants.
Fix the drips. A leaking toilet cistern or dripping tap can lose a surprising amount in a day. Put a few drops of food colouring in the toilet tank; if colour appears in the bowl without flushing, the flapper needs replacing.
Postpone the car wash. Use a bucket and cloth rather than a hose, or wait until the rains return. Hosing down the yard or veranda is also an easy saving.
Reusing water in the garden, safely
Gardens are usually the first casualty of the dry season, and greywater can keep fruit trees and seasoning herbs alive. Water from showers, hand basins and washing machines can be used on ornamental plants, lawns and the roots of fruit trees, ideally poured at the base rather than sprayed. Avoid using it on leafy vegetables and herbs that are eaten raw, and do not use water from the kitchen sink that carries grease and food scraps, or anything that has been used to wash nappies.
Soaps with high salt or bleach content can harm plants over time, so a plain or plant-friendly detergent helps if you plan to reuse laundry water regularly. Mulching with dried grass, coconut husk or leaves keeps the soil cool and cuts evaporation. Water early in the morning or late afternoon, never in the midday sun, and concentrate on young trees and plants you want to keep. Established mango, breadfruit and nutmeg trees are deep-rooted and usually survive a dry season without help.
Keeping tanks clean and the water safe
Stored water stays good only if the tank is looked after. These checks belong at the start of every dry season.
- Clean once a year. Drain the tank, scrub out sediment and algae, rinse, and refill. Many households do this in January before supply becomes uncertain.
- Keep it covered. Tight lids and screened overflows stop mosquitoes breeding, which matters because Aedes mosquitoes that spread dengue lay eggs in stored water.
- Shade the tank. Sunlight encourages algae. Opaque tanks and some shade help.
- Check the gutters. If you harvest rainwater, keep roof gutters clear and fit a first-flush diverter so the dirtiest water from the roof does not reach the tank.
- Treat drinking water. Water stored for long periods should be boiled, filtered or treated for drinking, especially if the tank is filled from rainwater or a truck.
- Know the trucked-water option. In severe shortages NAWASA and private suppliers deliver water by truck to some areas. Ask early, because demand rises quickly.
Mistakes that empty the tank early
Filling every container when water returns. Topping up the main tank is sensible; filling dozens of open buckets leads to waste, spills and mosquito breeding.
Leaving taps open when the supply is off. When water comes back, an open tap floods the kitchen or empties straight down the drain. Close taps whenever the pipe runs dry.
Ignoring an overflowing tank. A float valve that sticks can overflow a tank for hours when supply resumes. Check it after each refill.
Waiting until the tank is empty to act. Start conserving as soon as NAWASA announces regulation in your area, not when the last bucket is drawn.
Running a pump dry. Electric pressure pumps that run with no water in the tank burn out quickly. A low-level cut-off switch is cheap insurance, and it is worth asking a plumber to fit one before the dry months.
Forgetting the hot water tank. Solar and electric water heaters hold a large volume of water. When supply returns after a long gap, sediment stirred up in the pipes can settle there, so flush heaters occasionally.
Carriacou, Petite Martinique and rainwater homes
On Carriacou and Petite Martinique, the dry season is longer and harsher, and most households rely on cisterns filled from the roof in the rainy months. Desalinated water supplements this, but supply can be limited, and the routines above matter even more. A family that enters January with a full cistern and careful habits may get through to the rains; one that let the cistern run low over Christmas may be buying trucked water by March, when everyone else needs it too.
The same applies to mainland houses built with large cisterns, common in higher areas where public supply has always been uncertain. Keep roof surfaces clean, especially after Saharan dust episodes and before the first heavy rains, so the cistern fills with clean water. Check that downpipes and first-flush diverters work, and repair cracks in concrete cisterns while they are empty. A cistern that leaks a little all year can lose a large share of its stored water by the time the dry season peaks, and the loss is rarely noticed until it is too late to refill.
Frequently asked questions
When is the dry season in Grenada?
The dry season usually runs from about January to May, with February to April often the driest months. Its severity varies widely between years, and Carriacou and Petite Martinique are drier than the mainland throughout the year.
How big should a household water tank be?
It depends on household size and how long supply gaps last in your area. Many homes use tanks of 400 to 1,000 gallons, with larger cisterns in houses built for rainwater. Measure your daily use, then size storage to cover the longest gap you are likely to face.
Is greywater safe to use on vegetables?
Use it on ornamental plants, lawns and the base of fruit trees. Avoid leafy greens and herbs that are eaten raw, and never use kitchen sink water or water containing bleach or nappy washings on food plants.
How can you find out when water will be on in your area?
NAWASA issues advisories on supply schedules and changes through radio, its customer notices and local news. Neighbours and community groups often share updates quickly, but the utility's own announcements are the reliable source.
Does stored water need treating?
Water from a covered, clean tank fed by the public supply is generally fine for washing. For drinking, boiling, filtering or treating stored water is a sensible habit, particularly if it is rainwater, trucked water or has been stored for several weeks.
