A leading scientist has added his voice to a public appeal for water conservation, but says the current shortage is down to weather rather than global warming.

The recent warm spell and lack of rainfall has led to residents running dry around the Island, with water truckers reporting demand outstripping supply by four-to-one.

Up to 300 people are currently experiencing delays of up to five days to refill their tanks, forcing many to rely on neighbours for essential supply.

Government has reported that since the start of December, Bermuda has had less than half its normal rainfall — resulting in "the gradual emptying of water storage tanks throughout the Island".

It issued an appeal to householders yesterday, urging residents to avoid washing cars, using dishwashers and taking baths. "It is important to conserve as much water as possible," a spokesman said.

Dr. Nick Bates, senior research scientist and associate director of the Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences (BIOS), said yesterday: "We would like to support the message of conservation and water efficiency. It's important that people conserve as much as they can."

Dr. Bates, whose work for the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change contributed to last year's Nobel Peace Prize, said that although the water shortage was due to weather systems, it could however, provide a foretaste of the impact of climate change.

"We've had a warmer January and February that's for sure, but I think it's weather rather than climate, as global warming is occurring over a longer timeframe" he said.

"But as we move into the future we could expect more of this — less rain in the winter due to less fronts coming across from North America.

"It is difficult for scientists to say what the future will be in five to ten years' time, but 20-30 years from now the winters could be drier.

"On the flip side though we may get more rain in the summer, from sub-tropical systems and greater hurricane intensity, although we are not sure whether hurricane frequency will increase."

The last water shortage on the Island was in June/July 2005, following a previous shortage in January of that year, according to a Government spokesman.

The opening of the $10 million Tynes Bay Seawater Reverse Osmosis Plant in June is expected to relieve pressure on the Island's water supply, providing an additional 500,000 gallons per day. Until then, Russ Ford, vice president of the Bermuda Water Truckers' Association (BWTA), is urging the public to "conserve, conserve, conserve".

Mr. Ford said: "At the moment people are ordering more than they would normally, as they are trying to keep ahead of the ball game, but we are backed up five days and are not going to be able to deliver everything they order at the time they want it.

"We are advising people to look at how much they have in their tanks, to conserve, and to be patient.

"We need rain for at least a couple of days for the tanks to start to replenish, but now we have to be able to manage with what we have. So please, conserve, conserve, conserve."

The good news is that rain is on its way.

Dr. Mark Guishard, Director of Bermuda Weather Service, said: "Rainfall is expected on the weekend as a series of fronts crosses the Island tomorrow evening and early morning on Sunday.

"However, the exact amount of rain any one location receives is a function of the position and intensity of the weather systems — it is still quite literally up in the air."

How has the water shortage affected you? Contact our Newsdesk at: news@royalgazette.bm.