LIMITED operating hours at Government's water catchment facilities have made it difficult for drivers hoping to make deliveries.

Although the record-making deluge earlier this month eased the constant demand water truckers had been facing, their ability to meet even normal request levels remains compromised because of the restrictions.

"I've been in the business almost 28 years, and this is the worst we've had in terms of not being able to get the water," said Water Truckers' Association president John Stovell.

"The demand has been more than the supply and we were not able to get water from Government sources."

According to Mr. Stovell, truckers once had 24-hour access to the island's two Government facilities. At present, Port Royal is open between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m., although it sometimes closes as early as 3 p.m. Prospect operates between 7.30 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Mr. Stovell understands the restrictions exist because of the low rainfall the island has experienced for much of the summer, but believes the times could be more flexible for truckers when there is great demand.

"It's been very, very difficult for us this past season. We have sufficient trucks ? there are about 52 licences ? but we haven't been able to get the water. At (the) peak (of the dry spell), I only have one truck so you have to take that in consideration, I could get as many as 20 calls a day.

"But it's not always that I can do 20 orders a day. When we're running hard, we need about a week to be able to satisfy everyone."

When water is not scarce, it is available from a variety of sources ? John Barritt & Son or other industrial businesses with large tanks at Well Bottom in Southampton or along Hermitage Road in Devonshire.

"I live in Southampton East. When we have plenty of water, I can get water at closer sources where people have an abundance," Mr. Stovell explained.

"But with all those freshwater tanks gone this summer, we couldn't deliver as many loads per day. I had to travel to Prospect or to Port Royal. St. George's has been in a terrible state. If they can't get water there, they have to travel all the way to K.C. Daniels Limited on Hermitage Road or up to Prospect."

As compiled by the Bermuda Weather Service, average August rainfall sits at 5.64 inches. To date, the total rainfall for this month is 9.55 inches. Of that, 7.26 inches fell over a two-day period, August 7 and 8.

"(The demand) had eased up quite a bit since that last lot of rain," said Mr. Stovell, "but I still have the occasional request for water. Some folks who live in apartment houses, for instance, run out much faster and need water on a regular basis ? because of the tank size, the number of people living there, the size of families and all of that.

"At the Port Royal water outlet, for the past month to six weeks, they've been opening up around 10 a.m. and closing it off at 8 p.m. at the latest, but sometimes as early as 3 or 4 o'clock because the tanks were (low).

"At Prospect the outlet has been opening at 7.30 a.m. but they close it down around 5 p.m. because the tanks have been low. There's not enough rain. Most of the water comes from the well lens and it hasn't been able to produce (water) fast enough for all of us. Even when it rains, it takes a while for the water to filter through the lens."

A call to Russell Wade, Permanent Secretary for Works & Engineering, was not returned.