Sea Cows Bay water woes to end soon — Utilities Minister
Residents of Sea Cows Bay are being told that their water woes will soon come to an end.
While addressing the House of Assembly last Thursday, Utilities Minister Kye Rymer said a pump is now installed at the Long Trench Station.
“The operationalization of this pump is dependent on an adequate power supply which necessitates a 480kw transformer which is now being installed by BVI Electricity Cooperation,” the minister said.
“This is expected to provide a consistent supply of water to the residents of Sea Cows Bay and surrounding areas,” he added.
Meanwhile, Rymer said his ministry is expected to ink a contract “in the very near future for the supply of over 5,300 ultrasonic water meters along with a wireless automatic meter reading (AMR) system”.
“It is expected that once these water meters are installed that residents and businesses will be accurately billed for their water consumption. It is anticipated that the meters will be installed and commissioned by the third quarter, [in] 2020,” Rymer stated.
Years of water woes
Notably, for years, the Sea Cows Bay community and wider Third District have been only supplied with piped water for a limited number of hours each day.
Some sections of the First District have also been experiencing water shortages, particularly after the 2017 hurricanes impact on the territory’s water network.
Last year, Director of the Water & Sewerage Department Pearline Scatliffe-Leonard said that the community could expect a more reliable supply at the end of 2019.
But despite Scatliffe-Leonard’s promise, residents in higher elevations were still affected by the shortage of water.
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This guy doesn’t have a clue, no new pipes were run or a bigger tank installed, so how will the problem be fixed.
Kudos to minister rhymer because Action Man and the NDP were spiting/sabotaging Fraser and Biwater all the time.
The residents of Sea Cow Bay seemed to have had to live with a water shortage for years and have demonstrated uncommon patience. Lots of promises made, visits made but results slow in coming. Residents must be excited that relief is coming and coming soon. A reliable, steady supply of potable water and clean, safe drinking is a standard of living issue. First World status is not just a feel good exercise; residents must see, feel, touch, hear, experience and live First World.
Undoubtedly, the VI is a water challenge community. It lacks rivers, streams, lakes, ponds (retention), dams, reservoirs, springs…….etc to meet its residential, business, industrial and commercial needs. It has to lean heavily on desalination to meet its growing needs. It needs the production capacity and capability, along with the conveyance and distribution capacity and capability, to a deliver a steady supply of water to residents.
In looking at water sources, the VI has to think outside the box. For example, in many locales in the developed world, “toilet to tap” is being closely looked at as a source. It may sound repulsive but it is happening. Wastewater is being treated at an advanced level and instead of being discharged into a pond, lake, river, sea…….etc, it is injected into the potable water system where it receives full treatment before being distributed. Take a look at the NE Water in Singapore; Singapore is small, economic power house but it is also a water challenged community. Should the VI should explore “toilet to tap” as a source?
“For example, in many locales in the developed world, “toilet to tap” is being closely looked at as a source.” At first glance, my first response was not me, for that is repulsive and iky. Curious, I googled it and found that a number of countries and cities in US are already doing it to supplement their potable water system. For example, countries like the US, Spain, Australia., Singapore………etc. are. Singapore is a leader in the “toilet to tap” water process. Another thing I found out is that a certain percentage of bottle water is from municipal systems. So it is possible that we here in the BVI may be already indirectly drinking water from the “toilet to tap.” Guess we may need to do some forensic investigation to find out where that bottle water we guzzle down come from, ie, if the bottler is using water from municipal system that supplement it supply from sewage treatment plant(s) output. Wow! Ting to tark!
Mr minister. Take charge and ensure
The mmain pipes from sea cows bay to hannahs are changed before water hit the area.
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