There will be water shortages this summer and Bermudians must do their part to help Government conserve water, Works and Engineering Minister said yesterday.

?The reality is that abstraction from the fresh water lens is at or near capacity. Our existing Reserve Osmosis Plants and the distribution system are also at capacity,? he told members in the House of Assembly.

?The public can be assured that the Water Section staff is addressing all of these issues; however, there is a reality that there will be water shortages this summer.?

For that reason the Ministry will be conducting a public awareness campaign addressing two specific concerns. The first is ongoing information related to water supply system elements that relate to conservation, and proper maintenance and safe operation of private storage and piping systems.

Secondly, the Ministry will address summer low rainfall conditions and the measures likely to be taken by the Water Section and required by the public to minimise the impact. There will be a Water Conservation Week in June as part of the awareness campaign.

?The Water Section staff will also be meeting with key stakeholders such as Wedco, the BLDC, the Bermuda Hospitals Board, Westgate Correctional Facility, the Water Truckers Association, and the Sustainable Development project team, to discuss the specific measures that could be taken during the summer,? Mr. DeVent said.

Government?s plans to upgrade the Island?s water system are progressing, he said. The new Seawater Reverse Osmosis Treatment Plant and upgrading of storage and distribution piping will hopefully address most future water demands when it is commissioned in 2007.

In the meantime, however, Bermudains must conserve, the Minister said.