BioSafe boss says education programme needed on sewerage
The owner of BioSafe Treatment & Septic Solutions, Patrick Mitchell, has called for residents to be educated on some of the sanitation practices taking place in the territory.
Mitchell’s company was recently awarded a contract of $511,786.97 for the construction and installation of various components of the Long Swamp Pump Station. The project is a major component of the ongoing East End/Long Look (EE/LL) sewerage project.
During the contract signing ceremony, Mitchell expressed that some of the practices currently in place by several businesses in the territory will have to change in order for there to be a better functioning sewerage system.
He gave examples such as laundromats, garages and restaurants which have toxic chemicals such as detergents, oils and grease leaving their establishments and entering the main treatment plant and wider sewerage system.
“I think that we can try to, maybe, work together along with the Ministry of Health to kind of pass this information on,” Mitchell said. “Because when you have toxic agents going to the system, the whole maintenance programme is much higher, in terms of getting rid of all these things, you know? And these things are not things that bacteria can break down.”
Mitchell also suggested that biodegradable products be used at laundromats and other places to help mitigate against the damage that can be caused and to reduced the level of maintenance at the plant.
The BioSafe boss said the new treatment plant will work for everyone and persons need to understand that once the system is in placed and is being used correctly, their property value may rise as a result.
“Those pumps are very expensive and they are very ticklish in terms of getting parts for them all the time… So I’m saying, please, let’s put an educational programme forward to meet the needs of the people and to let them understand what we’re dealing with,” he added.
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These statements are spot on. We need to get all of these things under control for a better BVI. All of those chemicals that are not biodegradable enter the ecosystem killing living things creating imbalance in the biosphere that will ultimately destroy all of this beauty we are blessed to enjoy. Requires leadership and we pray for that in our government officials. They don’t need to know. They just need to know what needs to be done and have a strategy to do so.
This should all be part of a Territory-wide waste management policy. Most people are on septic systems. Do they know how they work? Are they aware that they need to be pumped out every 5-7 years? How should that waste be handled?
BVI people do not give a f**k, that’s it and that’s all. The entire place runs mad and everyone is comfortable just blaming the Government and pretending like most of the issues we faced aren’t caused by we the people. Sick sick sick mentality.
It would be fairly easy to restrict the importation of these products into BVI. Almost all of us are using septic tanks everyday.
Agree 100%. We education campaigns to have the citizens learn and understand about the negative habits results.
Forgot to mention tha6it should start in young school age.
The problem is no one listens. Band the products that are not safe for this plant. That’s the only way. This sounds harsh but dummies don’t respect the hard work biosafe and the Government put into this.