Public utilities ministry takes active steps to recommission inactive water intakes

Tuesday, March 16, 2010 – Minister for Communications, Works, Transport and Public Utilities Honourable Guy Joseph, says government has taken a decision to recommission various water intakes around the island, as one step towards addressing the present drought situation.

Minister Joseph says quality tests have already been undertaken at some of the intakes, while others will be tested this week to ensure that the water supply is adequate for public consumption.

He made the disclosure last Friday at a press conference.

“We are recommissioning the Varnard and Ravine Poisson water intakes where we are hoping to extract a fair amount of water. We estimate that these intakes which were abandoned several years ago—because the focus was on the John Compton Dam—can pump about two million gallons,” minister Joseph said.

“What we have done so far is put in place the pumps and desilt the reservoir in the Ravine Poisson area. We have done most of the work in the Varnard intake. In fact, LUCELEC has assisted in setting up the electricity in the Ravine Poisson area.”

Minister Joseph says officials are presently addressing some concerns to prepare for the recommissioning of the Varnard water intake. Those concerns including relocating some pig farms in the area.

He says authorities are at present, also exploring pumping water from various sites in the Le Paradis area on the east coast and in the La Guerre community.

“There is a well that the parliamentary representative foe this area, has brought to my attention, but we have to get WASCO to go in and do the necessary tests in the area to be sure that the water is suitable and what level of treatment would be required. We have also been in discussions pertaining to the Le Paradis area,” Joseph revealed.

In that regard, we have secured from the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) a tank for the storage of water in the Le Paradis area; so we are pursuing all these options and I must say that I am pleased with the approach from WASCO and the ministry of public utilities in addressing the drought situation and managing our supplies to the extent that we have at this point in time.”

Minister Joseph says several proposals are being considered to deal with the drought situation and to ensure that citizens have a reliable potable water supply.

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