BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, Mar.20.2018 – THE Water Manager at the Water Services Department, Denison Paul has said that a pump problem has compounded the ongoing water rationing in the St. Peters area, but they are hoping to have the problem rectified by the earliest tomorrow.
During an SKNVibes interview, Paul explained that the Department started rationing on Sunday (Mar. 18) in the said area, noting that it is more stringent there than in Basseterre.
He said that this is owing to the federation experiencing a dry season, which has affected the levels of the water supply on the island.
Additionally, the pump situation has compounded the problem, forcing authorities to implement the measure.
“We are working on it and it should be resolved shortly,” he stated.
He revealed that this is the first time that they would have had to ration water in that particular area during the daytime hours.
At the time of the interview, he could not provide the extent of the problem in St. Peters.
Meanwhile, the Water Manager said that the problem with regards to people not being able to receive water at the prescribed time that was earmarked in public announcements is due in large part to the build-out of their system.
He explained that he has received complaints that consumers are not receiving water at the prescribed time that is highlighted in the media, while others do or in some cases water goes off for some and others will have their supply still flowing.
“Based on the design of our distribution system, we have storage reservoirs at high elevations; when we turn on or shut the system down the people who live nearest to the reservoirs lose water first and they get water last. Because the water goes to the pipeline and goes all the way down to the lowest point and build its way up. So, if we shut off water at 8:00 p.m., then the person who lives nearest to the storage reservoir will lose water immediately while the person who lives all the way downtown…will not lose water for three, four, five, six hours or might not lose at all.”
According to a statement from the Water Services Department, Basseterre and its environs will also see a period of rationing.
The rainy season is expected to begin in late April to early May.
