BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THE Saddlers seems to be the hardest hit community by the prolonged dry spell and water shortage that St. Kitts is experiencing, and the Water Department has been taking measures to permanently address the problem.
Acting Manager of the Water Department Denison Paul told SKNVibes that only yesterday (June 9) a project began which would see almost 6 000 feet of piping laid from the Gibbons, Dieppe Bay area to Saddlers.
He said in about a week’s time after this project concludes, the Saddlers community would be receiving considerably more water.
As it stands, that community’s water supply comes from the Phillips’ mountain area and a well in Parsons called Profits Well. Because of the prolonged dry spell, which is a result of lack of rainfall, the only supply of water from which the Saddler’s community benefits is the Profits Well source which accounts for only about 40 percent of the supply.
This has resulted in rationing of water but some relief was brought to the community. According to Paul, for the past two weeks Arthur Sharpe of Beaumont Park provided assistance to the Water Department, via the use of two of his water tankers (6 000 gallons total capacity), for the trucking of water to the Saddlers Reservoir.
Yesterday the St. Kitts and Nevis Fire and Rescue Services Department also assisted in the effort via the use of three of their appliances (1 700 total capacity) to transport water to that area.
Paul indicated that on Monday some 20 000 gallons were trucked, and yesterday about 8 000 gallons were transported to the Saddlers Reservoir which has a capacity of about 200 000 gallons.
The Department also continues to truck water to the area and, according to Paul, it is just a drop in the bucket but it helps and the effort is greatly appreciated.
“With all the water we are trucking to Saddlers, there are still people there who do not get water because the amount we are trucking is nowhere near what the demand is. So that is just a drop in the bucket. But, of course, it helps and we appreciate those who are helping us. As I have said, if we were not trucking water the situation would be a lot worse.”
Paul said water had to be transported to the Cedar Grove area as well, and as recent as this week a pump was installed from which water is channeled to that area.
He is hoping that the pipe-laying project would be completed by early next week and “the people of Saddlers should not have that problem they are currently experiencing”.
Meanwhile, individuals are being reminded to conserve water and avoid wasteful practices.
