There will be clean water for St Lucy residents in 12 months.
That was the assurance given by the Barbados Water Authority (BWA) recently to residents as well as those of St Peter during a town hall meeting.
Acting general manager of the BWA, Christopher Mapp, said: “What we are prepared to do is to bring clear water to householders as soon as possible.”
He insisted BWA would meet Government’s deadline of 12 months to complete the project, which would be March of next year.
BWA has hired contractors to speed up the process while working hours, normally 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., have been extended. They will also work six days a week.
“We know this has not been easy on our customers,” Mapp stated.
The meeting at St Lucy Parish Church recently provided an update on the work and allowed householders to air their concerns about the tainted water or “brown” water which they said was flowing through their taps for several years.
Senior BWA personnel and two parliamentarians heard from more than a dozen speakers who said they were battling costly health and environmental problems affecting children and adults.
Tempers flared as several complained that children and adults were becoming sick, having itching skin and required medication from drinking discoloured water.
Nancy Davis, an elderly woman, complained of itching skin and sores. She accused the BWA of poor communication.
“You didn’t get back to me. It is not fair to be paying the bill and not getting any water,” she said.
Patsy Babb-Joseph was applauded by the audience when she shared a common view about inadequate service from water tankers.
“It takes me almost a week before I get water,” she said. “It is so unfair, I have to buy water.”
Some members of the audience also spoke of the high cost of purchasing water, transportation and difficulties with cooking, washing clothes and bathing, while calling for an installation of water tanks and an efficient scheduling of water tankers’ deliveries to help address their immediate problems.
St Lucy Member of Parliament Peter Phillips, who attended the town hall meeting along with Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance Ryan Straughn, said he was aware of the very serious concerns of residents.
“I know you have had stress for a number of years,” he noted.
Stephen Strickland, of Connell Town, a public educator on National Insurance matters, called for a re-look of the $32 Government has promised to pay to offset water bills from next month.
The announcement was made in this year’s Financial Statement and Budgetary Proposals.
Norman Yearwood said the $32 was inadequate. He estimated that a family of three people drinking two bottles of water daily could cost that family $180 a month: “I think you need to go back to the drawing board.”
He said he was advised by the BWA to purchase and install a water tank which cost him $12 000.
Glen Brome, who said he was a specialist in water purification with experience from Africa, questioned the approaches of the BWA engineers, saying: “There is a filtration and maintenance issue . . . . I think your group needs help. You guys need to get serious.”
Director of Engineering Charles Leslie and manager of Water Resources and Environmental Management, Alex Ifill, provided detailed accounts of the problems and work being done.
Leslie spoke of the need to replace the distribution network and install a new treatment and filtration system at the Alleynedale well. An estimated 21 kilometres of mains needed to be replaced, he said.
“We are going to change everything. We are with you,” Leslie added.
He said the issue of water tank scheduling would be addressed and anticipated a water tank installation programme would be re-started.
Strickland said residents would be holding the BWA accountable to the 12-month target.
“We expect that you will deliver in 12 months,” he stated, as several residents insisted they needed immediate attention with water tanks and water distribution.
Dr Ariana Marshall, a health and environment specialist, urged people not to boil the discoloured water.
“This issue is bigger than what you are communicating . . . . It is a public health issue,” she said, adding that the public needed data on the testing done by BWA, which is regulated by the Fair Trading Commission (FTC).
Director of Utility Regulation at the FTC, Brian Reece said it would seek to make the information available to the public. (HH)
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