Kingston, July 10 (Xinhua-RHC) -- Water consumption beyond basic needs such as drinking, cooking, washing, bathing and sanitation has been banned in Jamaica as of Wednesday amid severe drought, according to a government notice.

Watering gardens, grounds and farms, refilling tanks, ponds, or swimming pools, washing vehicles with a hose, and washing roadways, pavements, paths or garages are among the practices that could now result in a prison term under the new regulations. Those who breach the ban are subject to punishments from fines to imprisonment of up to 30 days.

Robert Pickersgill, minister of water, land, environment and climate change, told the parliament: "The amount of rainfall we received island-wide fell below the 30-year average for what is normal at this time of year, and was not enough to make up the deficit of last dry season."

Some emergency measures, including trucking water to the most affected areas, have also been taken to ensure basic water supply.