Climate change progress in Utila and Honduras

After a nine-month drought, which decimated many crops as well as tropical trees, I am currently researching the impacts of climate change in Utila (Honduras Central America). Heavy torrential rains now occur in February, which is earlier than normal for the rainy period.

Unfortunately, most rainwater is wasted here since there are very few rain barrels. Most Utilians are dependent on water from their own wells or from the city, which can also be drawn from underground wells. Well water is not reliable as they can dry out in long droughts that are becoming more frequent with climate change.

A few Utilians that I spoke to had their wells re-digged up to 500 feet deep, which was extremely expensive and time-consuming. Others had wells contaminated by sewage.

It is best to have rain barrels underneath every eave and to capture rainwater. If there is a prolonged heat wave or drought that causes water shortages it will be possible to obtain abundant rainwater.

The tiny home I’m staying in has clean rainwater coming out of the taps from an underground cistern that is always at full capacity so we never run out of water. If the cistern is overflowing with rainwater, a connecting pipeline drains the excess water to a fruit garden.

Rainwater is great for drinking, bathing, and cooking (if it’s boiled first). The owner was clever enough to construct this tiny home with an underground storage cistern. It also has solar panels, which were useful for when the electricity went down.

Utila, a tiny island community of less than 12,000, is seeing development. Many new builders are including solar panels, rain barrels, underground cisterns and rain barrels into their architectural designs. As heat waves and droughts become more severe and frequent,  builders know that it’s important to save every drop of water during torrential downpours. 

Rain barrels or cisterns can be used all over the globe because of extended heat waves and droughts.

Peterborough will see more water shortages and bans due to the hotter than usual summers. Residents should invest in rain barrels soon as spring is fast approaching. Rain barrels also keep water seepage away from foundations so indoor flooding doesn’t occur.. Consider installing an underground cistern when building a new house. This can help save hundreds of bucks annually as Peterborough residents are currently on city water meters and are charged for every drop.

Customers who are interested in purchasing rain barrels from Peterborough Utilities Group can receive a $25 subsidy. Peterborough Green-up can help residents purchase rain barrels and get an instant rebate. I have a rainbar on all four of my eaves.

There are only eight more years before global warming accelerates beyond 1.5 degrees. The feedback loop that will make it irreversible will also occur. We have not been able to reduce our emissions so we need to start thinking about ways we can conserve this precious resource before we experience water shortages, droughts, and water bans.

Tricia Clarkson, a climate change columnist, is co-chair of Peterborough Alliance for Climate Action