Water truckers are urging the public to plan ahead when it comes to deliveries of this precious resource.
Russ Ford, vice president and spokesman for the Bermuda Water Truckers Association, said islanders also have to realize they have a responsibility to the environment, and so should conserve as much as possible.
This was even more important in the current recession, in which people are sometimes forced to choose between water deliveries or groceries.
Mr Ford, president of water trucking company, Bermuda Water Services Ltd, said: “The weather is quite dry right now, which is good for business, but for the consumer it’s a challenge because people are having to purchase more water at a higher price.
“People are making decisions based on prioritizing their needs, such as, ‘Should I buy groceries or water?’. That is what we hear quite often.
Responsibility
“But most people right now recognize that water is a precious resource and are budgeting their usage accordingly.
“We want to encourage people to plan ahead and to conserve water.
“Above all we want to help them to realize that they have a responsibility to the environment as well.
“Our message is conservation. If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.
“So we encourage people to check their tanks regularly and to establish a good relationship with a water service company.”
Water truckers increased the price of a load of water — 1,000 gallons of water — from $80 to $90 from April 1.
There are about 60 water trucks in operation on the island, capable of delivering 60,000 gallons of water.
Mr Ford said the decision to raise the load price was not taken lightly.
“Two years ago the price of water from Government increased by 47 per cent, so that was a significant reason why the load prices had to increase, together with the general cost of doing business,” he said.
Cost of living
“Our industry has faced rising costs over the last year-and-a-half, such as fuel, trucking parts and tyres.
“The cost of living has also gone up. We have to survive.
“This is the first time we’ve raised our prices in two years.”
At Bermuda Water Services Ltd, Mr Ford said many customers have standing orders during the dry summer months, but that the turnaround time is between 24 and 72 hours.
The company, established 26 years ago, operates two 1,000 gallon trucks across the island.
“We have a large, diverse customer base,” he said.
“We pride ourselves on service and have certainly built up a very good reputation for delivering on time, every time.”
• Contact Bermuda Water Services Ltd on 236-2410/236-5748 or e-mail bdawater@northrock.bm