Government has issued a summer water warning, in a bid to prevent a repeat of last year?s severe shortage.

Bermuda suffered its worst drought for more than 50 years last year, with residents left praying for downpours as water was rationed for truckers.

As temperatures start to soar again, Works and Engineering Minister accepted the Island faced supply challenges again this summer ? particularly in the East End of the Island.

?There is currently a limited supply of water and there will again be restrictions placed on the supply this summer, as the need arises,? he said.

But with bolstered supplies and sensible precautions from households he believes Bermuda will be better equipped than it was 12 months ago.

Updating the Senate yesterday, Sen. Burch said: ?The bottom line is we will continue to have challenges this summer with the supply of water, but we believe that with the increase in supply and prudent management by individual households, we will be able to manage this summer better than last.?

He added: ?I believe that the community learned a very valuable lesson last year as it relates to the importance of water conservation.

?Water conservation measures are an integral part of water supply management. It is critical that Bermudians conserve water, not just during summer months, but year round.?

Outlining a number of initiatives to boost water capacity, kick-started by his Ministry in the wake of last summer?s shortfall, Sen. Burch confirmed that a 115,000-gallon a day seawater reverse osmosis plant, near Tynes Bay, would come on line later this summer. ?Commissioning challenges? have delayed full plant operation, he told the Senate.

A 50,000-gallon water storage tank and an automatic outlet for water truckers have also been installed at the former ZFB property on North Shore.

The Minister also said that a new 500,000-gallon per day seawater reverse osmosis plant was planned for Tynes Bay. A contract was due to be awarded soon and the plant is due to start operating next September. ?The treated water will be piped to Prospect, and provide significant additional capacity to piped customers and truckers.?

On the reservoir front, Sen. Burch said that the one million-gallon ?Prospect Reservoir Two? was repaired this winter and will soon be in full service. Work on Reservoir One ends in September and plans are in hand to upgrade the third site once the second is completed.

In the West End, three new reverse osmosis plants ? boasting a total capacity of 115,000 gallons per day ? will be installed in partnership with the West End Development Corporation. This will free up extra water for truckers, Sen. Burch confirmed, and a recent upgrade of WEDCO storage facilities meant an extra two million-gallon storage capacity will be available.

He said plans were ?well advanced? for installation of a reverse osmosis plant at Westgate and this will ?eliminate a large portion of the demand for Government-produced water in the West End?.

Government, however, expect the biggest water worries in the East End this summer where planned capacity improvements ?have not materialised as planned?.

But the Minister said that repairs to Victoria reservoir are expected to finish in August, while large rainwater tanks at Southside and the former Club Med site will help meet demand in that part of the Island.

He called on residents to regularly check water tanks, fixing cracks and pipe leaks when needed. In times of low rainfall, supplies to water truckers are sometimes restricted. He said that Government is keen to maintain a partnership with the truckers and many of the measures outlined above should lead to a better service for truckers.