Does anyone have any information they want to share with me concerning the major fresh water problem that is facing the Bahamian islands? I am working on a reseach project through a University and would appreciate anyone's input at this point. thank you!

Does anyone have any information they want to share with me concerning the major fresh water problem that is facing the Bahamian islands? I am working on a reseach project through a University and would appreciate anyone's input at this point. thank you!

I know that there is a fresh water problem in Nassau but I haven't heard of any problems with the other islands.

I know that there is a fresh water problem in Nassau but I haven't heard of any problems with the other islands.

- Well see there is not the "problem" in Nassau because everyday millions of gallons of water are being sent there. In particular, the island of Andros sends most of their water there and in return Andros itself is loosing. The wells and other fresh water resources are drying up because of this and there is a major depleation in the freshwater supply for the Bahamian islands.

I wasn't aware of this.

P.S. You only need to post once on this issue. Posting mutiple threads on the same topic is not allowed in the forum.

I wasn't aware of this.

P.S. You only need to post once on this issue. Posting mutiple threads on the same topic is not allowed in the forum.

yeah sorry about all the postings....my computer froze. The Bahamian people are not aware of this because the government does not realize how big of potential this problem actually is.

yeah sorry about all the postings....my computer froze. The Bahamian people are not aware of this because the government does not realize how big of potential this problem actually is.

No problem :tup:

What really puzzles me about this is that there is water all around us and a problem such as this can exist.

Whatever happened to reverse osmoses?

No problem :tup:

What really puzzles me about this is that there is water all around us and a problem such as this can exist.

Whatever happened to reverse osmoses?

yeah there is water all around..but the process of desaltination is extremly expensive. the government just needs to preserve the water that it has now. from what i have learned, the future does not look good for the islands.

- Well see there is not the "problem" in Nassau because everyday millions of gallons of water are being sent there. In particular, the island of Andros sends most of their water there and in return Andros itself is loosing. The wells and other fresh water resources are drying up because of this and there is a major depleation in the freshwater supply for the Bahamian islands.

Dear Duke,

This seems a bit strange, that is, that Andros' fresh water resources are drying up because of the amount of water being shipped to Nassau from Andros. I'll tell you why.

During my school years (in the 1940's and 1950's), in Bahamian Geography we were taught that there are only 3 islands in the Bahamian chain which have an unlimited supply of fresh water, namely, Andros, Grand Bahama and Abaco. I believe that old Geography book is long out of print, but this info has always stuck in my memory. I just loved that phrase "Unlimited supply of fresh water", and I used to think, "One day I am going to take up permanennt residence on one of those islands with an unlimited supply of fresh water!" I know that was a long time ago, and I am no expert in these matters, but I thought that the so-called unlimited supplies would always be there.

This is why I always thought that about 40 or so years ago, the government would have phased out New Providence (Nassau) from being the capital and set up the capital on one of those larger islands. I thought it would have been done gradually, over a 20 or 30 year period.

I think it was under the Ingraham administration that a plan was being considered for reverse osmosis but I don't recall why it was not implemented. Or do you think it could put some of local drinking water companies out of business and thus be bad for the economy?

I think this water "problem" is something we have to deal with and resolve. "Without water, we can do nothing!"

Dear Duke,

This seems a bit strange, that is, that Andros' fresh water resources are drying up because of the amount of water being shipped to Nassau from Andros. I'll tell you why.

During my school years (in the 1940's and 1950's), in Bahamian Geography we were taught that there are only 3 islands in the Bahamian chain which have an unlimited supply of fresh water, namely, Andros, Grand Bahama and Abaco. I believe that old Geography book is long out of print, but this info has always stuck in my memory. I just loved that phrase "Unlimited supply of fresh water", and I used to think, "One day I am going to take up permanennt residence on one of those islands with an unlimited supply of fresh water!" I know that was a long time ago, and I am no expert in these matters, but I thought that the so-called unlimited supplies would always be there.

This is why I always thought that about 40 or so years ago, the government would have phased out New Providence (Nassau) from being the capital and set up the capital on one of those larger islands. I thought it would have been done gradually, over a 20 or 30 year period.

I think it was under the Ingraham administration that a plan was being considered for reverse osmosis but I don't recall why it was not implemented. Or do you think it could put some of local drinking water companies out of business and thus be bad for the economy?

I think this water "problem" is something we have to deal with and resolve. "Without water, we can do nothing!"


Thanks so much for your input. I am from the States and I'm trying the best I can right now to get all the info possible. The government is aware of the issue but they just dont understand that it's major. There most likely be enough water to support the Bahamian Islands alone, but with all of the tourism over in Nassau, this is what causes the problem. The fresh water wells are drying up and becoming usless as all that water is shipped to Nassau. I am still working with my data, but later on we will be able to produce a graph which will show the fresh water depleation on Andros.

Thanks so much for your input. I am from the States and I'm trying the best I can right now to get all the info possible. The government is aware of the issue but they just dont understand that it's major. There most likely be enough water to support the Bahamian Islands alone, but with all of the tourism over in Nassau, this is what causes the problem. The fresh water wells are drying up and becoming usless as all that water is shipped to Nassau. I am still working with my data, but later on we will be able to produce a graph which will show the fresh water depleation on Andros.

This sounds serious :(
I was born and raised on Andros and I never thought that something like this would be happening at such a time. I will try and do a little research myself to see what facts I can come up with.

This sounds serious :(
I was born and raised on Andros and I never thought that something like this would be happening at such a time. I will try and do a little research myself to see what facts I can come up with.

Thanks so much with your concern as well. I am working on this research through Forfar Field Station, which you are most likely familuar with. I love the Bahamas so much, especially Andros, and I want to help them out with this issue.

Thanks so much with your concern as well. I am working on this research through Forfar Field Station, which you are most likely familuar with. I love the Bahamas so much, especially Andros, and I want to help them out with this issue.

What are your suggestions on how we can help resolve this issue?

I have no idea as of right now how to help this issue. Personally, I think that there should be a decrease in the amount of water sent to Nassau strictly for tourism. But, as of right now...we are just uncovering the problems.

What about rain water collection here in Nassau?

Groundwater is what you all are using now...but stated earlier, the groundwater wells are drying up and then me contaminated with salt.