Town/City: 

Bridgetown

State/Province: 

St. Michael

Country: 

Barbados

Latitude/Longitude: 

N013-06.2 W059-37.5

Information supplied by

Wayne Coutinho

95coutio@scar.utoronto.ca

62 Gardiner Drive, Ajax, Ontario, Canada. L1S 5Y1

 

Dated Thu Dec 10 02:41:42 1998 

Information Topics:

City Description:

Barbados is the most easterly island of the Caribbean. Located approximately 1,930 km (1,200 mi.) southeast of Miami, and although technically in the Atlantic, it is regarded as a Caribbean territory. Barbados has a total area of 430 sq. km (166 sq. mi.). With the terrain being generally flat, it is intensively cultivated for agricultural use. The National Geographic Atlas of the World Revised, (Sixth Edition, 1995) estimates the population of Bridgetown at 6,100. The estimated population of Barbados is 262,000, with a growth rate of 0.24% per year. With more than 600 people per square kilometer, Barbados is one of the world's most densely populated nations. The language of Barbados is English, and the literacy rate is 99%. No other language is in common use, although a local dialect called Bajan is often used among locals. Barbados presents a largely free enterprise, small, open economy. Up to the 1970s, that was based primarily on sugar agriculture. There are now four essential productive industries: tourism, agriculture, manufacturing, and offshore financial services. There is also an increase in the information technology industry. A per capita income of $9,200(US) gives Barbados one of the highest standards of living of all the small island states of the eastern Caribbean. Barbados has a GDP purchasing power of US$2.4 billion, an inflation rate of 2% and unemployment rate of 20.5% (1994 est.). Despite this high unemployment, there is a stable democracy and a relatively prosperous economy.

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Climate:

Barbados' climate is tropical but due to the steady trade winds, the extremes of heat are exceptional. It is generally pleasant with a cool, dry period between December and March. It becomes warmer toward May, with the Hurricane season following from June to November. It is during the latter part of this period that the hottest days are experienced. Daytime temperatures vary according to the month of the year, but are generally between 21-31 degrees C (80-85 degrees F) with a 10 to 15 degree drop during the night. Average annual rainfall is about 1000mm (40") in coastal areas, reaching 2000mm (80") inland. (Source www.barbados.com)

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Basic Hydrogeology:

Barbados lies directly on the plate boundary and is not a volcanic island. Barbados was formed by a wedge of sediments that was pushed upward as the plates moved together. The surface rocks in most of Barbados are the remains of old coral reefs that grew as the water over this wedge of sediments became shallow. (Source www.caribbeansupersite.com/region/geology.htm) The Pleistocene limestone aquifer (PLA) of Barbados is composed of highly permeable reef limestone overlying Tertiary deep-sea strata that act as an aquitard. Groundwater infiltrates through the soil and limestone then flows along the top of the aquitard and into a freshwater lens before discharging along the coast. Most of the PLA lies well above sea level and the freshwater lenses only occur in low-lying parts of the island. Average depth-to-water is 50m and discharge takes place primarily along the coastline. Discrete recharge takes place through sinkholes, drainage wells and dry valley beds. Soils influence recharge because of their variable infiltration rates. Soils occurring at higher elevations are generally more permeable than those at lower elevations. Thus, there is greater potential for diffuse recharge through soils at higher elevations. (Fig. 2) (Source www.geo.utexas.edu/jonesi/AWRA1998.htm and www.geo.utexas.edu/jonesi/gsa1998.htm)

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Water Use:

Bridgetown obtains its main water source from groundwater. The primary source is the Belle Pumping Station located on the eastern edge of Bridgetown. (Ian Jones, personal interview)

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Groundwater Issues:

Groundwater is threatened by contamination, leaching of fertilizers, urban and industrial wastes, and other anthropogenic wastes. Reduction and shortage in groundwater supplies is also a problem due to high demand of towns, agriculture, golf courses, and surrounding areas.

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Groundwater Problems:

Reduction in water pressure or slight water shortage can be a problem in some areas. Illegal solid waste disposal threatens contamination of aquifers. Elevated nitrate concentrations indicate a widespread anthropogenic impact, primarily associated with the widespread use of nitrogenous fertilizers for agriculture (Banner, J. et al., 1994). This might pose a problem due to the large sizes of sugar plantations and other sources. "However, nitrate concentrations rarely, if ever, exceed drinking water standards." (Ian Jones, personal interview)

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Solutions:

At present, there are twelve wastewater treatment facilities in use in Barbados, ranging in size from 2,860 to 37,400 gpd for hotel facilities and to 594,000 gpd for the Barbados Water Authority plant. The combined total treatment capacity amounts to 786,280 gpd. The Barbados Water Authority plant is a contact stabilization plant located in Bridgetown. Two more BWA sewerage systems are planned for the south and west coasts, with the intention of reusing their wastewater effluents. Reuse of treated wastewater for the irrigation of gardens, plants and lawn grass is limited at present and there are applications for the reuse of wastewater on golf courses for a number of major hotels. In addition, plans are in place to reuse some of the treated effluent from the BWA Bridgetown Sewage Treatment Plant for flushing sewer lines. (Source www.oas.org/SP/PROG/chap5_6.htm)

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References and Other Author(s):

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Contacts:

The University of Texas at Austin
Dept. of Geological Sciences (C1140)
Austin, TX 78712
Telephone: (512) 471-5759 / (512) 371-1500
Ian C. Jones           email  jonesi@mail.utexas.edu
Dr. Jay L. Banner   email  banner@maestro.geo.texas.edu

Barbados Water Authority
Pine East-West Boulevard
The Pine, St. Michael
Barbados
Dr. John Mwansa, Project Manager
Barbados Water Resources Management and Water Loss Studies.
Telephone: (809) 430-9372 / 430-9373
Fax (809) 430-9374.
Denis Yearwood, General Manager
Telephone: (809) 427-3990/426-4134
Fax: (809) 426-4507
email  wrmwls@caribsurf.com

The Caribbean Meteorological Institute (CMI)
Hydrology Section
Husbands, St. James
P.O. Box 130
Bridgetown
Telephone: (809) 425-1362/1365/1367
Fax: (809) 424-4733
Colin A. Depradine, Principal             email   cold@inaccs.com
Frank C. Farnum, Chief Hydrologist   email   fcfarnum@inaccs.com

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