The National Water Commission (NWC) says it is fully prepared for Tropical Storm Ernesto, but its customers should brace for disruption for the following reasons:

Many of the 460 water supply systems across the island, of necessity, have intakes in riverbeds and are susceptible to flood damages and blockages.

Wells are often located, of necessity, in low-lying plains and are susceptible to flooding

Most water and wastewater systems are heavily dependent on the national power grid for operations.

More than 5,000 kilometres of undulating pipeline are susceptible to land slippage, pipeline dislocation and breakage.

All water sources are at risk of contamination and muddy inflows after heavy rainfall and flooding. Therefore, boil drinking water.

Most water systems are at least partly situated in very remote areas that are difficult to access, especially after a storm event.