Marshall Islands declares emergency as water runs out

The government of the Marshall Islands dispatched a ship to supply drinking water to outlying islands Wednesday after declaring a state of emergency amid a prolonged drought.

The water supply in Majuro’s reservoir has fallen to less than six million gallons of water — less than a five-day supply at current levels of use. The water supply is now turned on just two days a week.

“If we get to five million gallons, then we’ll reduce water hours to one day a week,” said Majuro Water and Sewer Company manager Terry Mellan.

Fresh water supplies have dwindled since January with the El Nino weather phenomenon causing an extended drought for a country that depends on rain for about 95 percent of its fresh water.

Reginald White, director of the Majuro Weather Station, said the Marshall Islands was going through a transition from the El Nino weather pattern to La Nina, which could mean little rain until May.

Yahoo