Mauritius: Managing Water Resources with Blockchain

As a Small Island Developing State (SIDs), the republic of Mauritius has become a hotspot for a wide range of environmental hazards such as cyclones, storm and tidal surges, torrential rains, floods and flash floods, landslides, tsunami. Although not specifically prone to drought, Mauritius is classified as a water-stressed country and faces seasonal water scarcity. The last recorded drought was in late 1998, spilling into the following year.?

Mauritius is undergoing a similar drought, which began late last year. Mauritius Hindi News, while quoting the Mauritian Minister of Public Utilities, Sunil Dowarkasing, in a Dec. 8, 2022 report, noted that he (Minister Dowarkasing) saw no improvement before January 2023. The minister added that the water crisis indicated a management problem.

“We don’t have many solutions for the water shortage. We should ensure that there is less water loss. The government tried to solve this problem but unfortunately, it did not happen. It’s not just due to climate change. There is also a problem of mismanagement."

This article explores water scarcity/drought in the Island nation while proffering blockchain technology as a viable solution to this problem. Since blockchain is seeing numerous applications across existing and potential industries, it is possible to incorporate the technology into Mauritius' water economy. And as authorities have attempted addressing this challenge, as claimed by Minister Dowarkasing through traditional means (all to no avail), blockchain as a digital innovation could be a sovereign remedy, particularly in filling the mismanagement gap in the ecosystem.?

Appraising the Mauritian Water? Crisis and its Impact?

Mauritius experienced its worst drought ever in 1998. The drought affected all sectors, including the sugar industry, leading to an estimated loss of $160 million. Sugar is considered the country's leading agricultural export. The crop occupies 36% of Mauritius' total land area and 70% of its cultivated land. In 2001, 5.8 million tons of can were produced, and sugar processing accounted for 73% of the value added for crop products.?

In the same year (1998), Mauritius faced severe water shortages lasting up to six hours daily. At the time, around 1.2 million people had a water supply for only one hour each day. The water shortages were attributed to a high deficit in rainfall. According to the Southern Africa Drought Resilience Initiative (SADRI) Mauritius experiences warmer seasons, erratic rainfall, and dry spells typically followed by weighty rains. But what is the relevance of water (as a resource) to the Mauritian economy?

Impact of Water Crisis on Mauritius

Scientists have discovered that two-thirds of the earth is covered in water. However, only 1% of it is usable by humans (not for consumption). Of this 1%, roughly 0.4% is potable for over 7 billion humans, while the rest is salt water and undrinkable. And according to the World Health Organization (WHO), 1 in every three people globally lacks access to safe drinking water. The relevance of water resources extends to significant industries like Agriculture, which Mauritius boasts of as a mainstay economy.?

About 40% of the country’s land is used for crop cultivation, of which about 90% is sugarcane, with the remaining land planted with tea, tobacco and a small number of food crops, mainly vegetables and fruits. Recent figures show that below-average rains in early 2021 undermined production prospects of 2021 food crops, estimated at below-average levels in 2020. Rainfall trends show an increase in the frequency of dry years after the 1990s, with the most severe dry spells experienced in 1999, 2009 and 2011. In 2009, the country observed a dry spell, and the contribution of agriculture to GDP remained negative for four consecutive years thereafter.

Bouts of water scarcity, marked by temporal and spatial rainfall distribution, notably occurring between October and December, severely impact the country's agricultural output. However, data from the National Drought Risk Index (NDRI) shows that only regions in the north and parts of the eastern regions are more vulnerable and at risk of drought. Other consequences of drought include severe water shortages, food insecurity, and increased crop diseases.

Mauritius is also highly susceptible to climate change, which worsens the unavailability of water resources. The negative impacts of the climate factor have already been felt in the last decade through longer dry seasons, shorter wet seasons and increased intensity of droughts. This results in more than 20% of the population suffering recurrent intermittent water supply under normal conditions (i.e. even during the wet season) – a figure that can rise to 75% during the dry season. Moreover, as the population increases— especially when tourists visit scenic locations in the country— there is a strain on water availability.?

Leveraging Blockchain as a Solution

As noted earlier, part of Mauritius's water scarcity challenge stems from mismanagement. With the water stress projected to increase by 2040 due to rapid civilisation and global warming, Mauritius cannot afford to leave water management to chance. As such, while it is impossible to leverage blockchain to address natural factors— like sparse rainfall— causing scarcity, the technology can conveniently help to tackle mismanagement.

Capitalising on a blockchain, Mauritian authorities can establish a decentralised and transparent system. This will facilitate the equal distribution of water across the country. The existing centralised system is impeachable, giving leeway to mismanagement. However, a blockchain-based management system comprising consumers, corporations, and government as participants will enable faster interaction. Smart contracts determine the fee to be paid by consumers while transactions are recorded on the blockchain. Thus, it is untenable for any party to tamper with relevant data.?

Blockchain can enable a solution to tackle water pollution while improving water quality through a Blockchain-IoT system. The implementation of automatic smart sensors to detect water pollutants in water resources that notify water managers of the present contamination is viable. These sensors measure the level of pollution while simultaneously informing concerned authorities to take corrective measures for the same. In addition, they identify water leaks from pipe bursts to reduce significant water wastage.

Furthermore, blockchain should be leveraged to create a water trading system between consumer to consumer wherein a consumer possesses a licence to obtain water from natural water resources and shares the excess water with other consumers at a controlled price. A blockchain-based system to track all the events in this process can be built to ensure faster direct trading without the need for third parties.

Final Thoughts

A worsening global water crisis could spell doom for hundreds of industries, particularly agriculture. Without water, agriculture cannot survive; without the latter, humanity hangs on a loose thread. But as with any emerging technology, the cost of leveraging blockchain for Mauritius drought situation may be high. Moreover, this will take several years of iteration, planning, and modification to determine the best fit for such a situation. Blockchain can help Mauritius address management issues but is the government willing to pay the price?