Madame Speaker, the majority of our residents, including the eastern end of Tortola, Anegada and Jost Van Dyke have been enjoying an improved water supply for the past several months. However, with the dry season upon us once more, we have seen a sharp increase in the demand for public water supply.
This drastic shift in water usage in recent months, Madame Speaker, has stretched our resources. As a result of this situation, Madame Speaker, I have been receiving an increasing number of complaints from several residents and business owners that have been affected by the intermittent supply of potable water.
Madame Speaker, I acknowledge the gravity of this problem particularly in areas of the Territory where it is more acute such as the Valley, Virgin Gorda, West End, MacNamara and in some higher elevations such as the Ridge Road, which causes obvious inconveniences.
Madame Speaker, in addition to issues related to increased demand for water during the summer months, there are other challenges that impact our water supply that must be addressed in the short to medium term such as:
• Breakage of pipes which causes leaks to occur
• Lack of storage capacity at some of our reservoirs
• The need to refurbish or in even build new reservoirs, especially on the western end of the island
• Production levels of some of our water plants
• The need to increase the size of our distribution pipes
As Minister with responsibility for the subject of water, I wish to assure all residents, Madame Speaker, that I do take this mandate seriously and I am therefore doing all that is within my power to bring some relief to those individuals that cannot enjoy a continuous, dependable supply of potable water.
Madame Speaker, I wish to report that I am in regular contact with the management and engineering team of the Water and Sewerage Department in order to get a clear understanding of the current and emerging problems that are plaguing our water supply system. To this end, Madame Speaker we have taken some immediate but necessary measures which include:
1. Pumping additional water from the Hodge’s Creek Reservoir to supply customers from Paraquita Bay to Fish Bay.
2. Commenced construction of a water pump station in the Cox Heath area. This action will supplement the water supply to our residents on the western end, including Towers, Frenchman’s Cay and Steel Point. We are projecting that this alternative source of water will be fully operational within two to three weeks.
3. Actions have also been taken by our Virgin Gorda counterparts and therefore we should see improvements within two weeks or sooner to their supply of water.
Madame Speaker, the Water and Sewerage Department has already developed a very comprehensive plan to address the major deficiencies in the overall system. Some of the proposed solutions Madame Speaker are of a costly nature given the fact that the supply system has deteriorated over a number of years. It will therefore be necessary to use a phased approach to implement certain necessary upgrades.
In the meantime, Madame Speaker, I have also approved the following additional actions to be undertaken:
1. The replacement of existing 4” pipes with 6” pipes in some of the affected areas.
2. Collaborating with our water suppliers on ways in which the current production levels at our water plants could be increased.
3. Refurbishment of some existing reservoirs such as the Cappoon’s Bay facility and the Old Zion Hill Reservoir.
4. Interconnecting the water supply from Harrigan Estate to our MacNamara residents and
5. Introducing more pressure reducing valves, air valves and strainers to better increase the efficiency of our water system.
Madame Speaker, we have expectations in the short term to increase our water supply through the Biwater contract arrangement; however, we expect some delays for the delivery of water due to a change in expectation for the source of water by Biwater. We are working with Biwater as they go through the planning requirements process to obtain that alternate source. In addition to the supply of water that is expected, the Ministry has to make some major capital major capital investments, in support of the Water and Sewerage Department’s efforts, which would enable a more reliable distribution of water, once it becomes available.
Madame Speaker, I will continue to place a high level of urgency and attention to this dire problem which, this Government considers, perhaps only second to our sewerage woes, is one of the biggest issues affecting the territory at the moment.
As I pointed out in our budget debate a few months ago, Madame Speaker, it is my intention to appoint a focused project team to review and implement these necessary water solutions which our able team at the Water and Sewerage Department has proposed for some time, in anticipation of the increased water supply expected in the near future.
Lastly Madame Speaker, I wish to thank the residents and business owners for their patience and understanding as we work through this very challenging period to implement workable solutions that are designed to fix the issues that now plague our water supply system.
Thank you Madame Speaker.
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