Saturday’s story about Bermuda’s four-year water shortage was another example of why Bermuda must continue to focus on the issue of ensuring that the Island has an adequate supply of fresh water.In 2006, Bermuda recorded 62 inches of rain, the highest amount since 2000. Since then, the amount of annual rainfall has steadily declined, hitting 46 inches in 2010, and 40 inches in 2011 — two thirds of the amount received in 2006. This year looks set to continue the trend, with just 21.37 inches so far, compared to the normal amount of around 30 inches. If the trend continues, 2012 will be about as dry as 2011 was.That’s bad news for the Island, farmers included. Just why this should be is not clear. Weather forecasters note shifts in the Bermuda High, while climate change cannot be discounted. What should be certain is that after five consecutive years of decline, and with this year looking no better, low rainfall should be an accepted fact and Bermuda needs to adapt to it. This is not an anomaly but a genuine trend. Of course, Bermuda is different from other countries. With no natural water sources aside from the lens below and the skies above, there is even more pressure to nurture this precious natural resource.The means of doing so are varied. A poll running on The Royal Gazette’s website yesterday afternoon showed 45 percent of those voting would like to see more reverse osmosis plants built, while 31 percent said more should be done to promote conservation. A scant seven percent were in favour of sharing showers, showing people take this issue seriously.Government and the private sector deserve credit for investing in reverse osmosis plants, which are the most obvious technological solution to the problem. The fact it has been accepted as a solution is also important. These have done a lot to improve supply without putting more pressure on the freshwater lens, which is drawn on very heavily through wells. The risk with that approach is that it will not be sustainable. If the lens is exhausted or severely exploited, it will be very difficult for it to recover.So looking for solutions from other than the Island’s limited fresh water supply remains important. Another means of doing this is to recycle so-called grey-water — the left over water from baths, showers, sinks and clothes washers — which can be recycled or purified for use in flushing or irrigation of gardens or farmland. This is mainly done in the home, but would enable householders to preserve their fresh water for drinking and washing. For people who live close to farms and commercial fields, this could also give relief to the hard-pressed farming community.None of these ideas are very new, although technology continues to improve and make them more accessible and cost effective. Government can help by reducing duty costs and so on for the equipment, or giving tax breaks to the companies that install and maintain the equipment. Government can also help as the single best agency for promotion water conservation, which remains critically important as a drought-fighter.It might be argued that these ideas are unnecessary since water suppliers are reporting reduced demand this year. But that’s a false assumption. Heavy rain in May and June has enabled Bermuda to avoid drought in July, when less than three inches fell — 40 percent below the norm. But if no rain falls in the next couple of weeks, then Bermuda could be back in drought.