The National Water and Sewerage Authority (NAWASA) advises the general public that it has discontinued valve regulations islandwide.
In April of this year, NAWASA was forced to institute valve regulations in a number of areas. The Petite Etang Water System in the parish of St. David which produces 400,000 gallons of water per day was not able to exceeded 200,000 gallons per day during this month. Les Avocat also in the parish of St. David also had a production decline from 400,000 gallons to 200,000 gallons per day. Areas such as Morne Delice, Mt. Airy and La Borie received intermittent supply.
Both Munich and Plaissance water systems in the parish of St. Andrew produces approximately 100,000 gallons of water per day, but recorded production figures of less than 40,000 per day.
A three month comparative analysis island wide reveals that the wettest month for this year has been January with 2,736.57 mm. Since then rainfall was reduced to 1,626 mm in February and 292 mm in March.
NAWASA’s Chief Engineer Nigel Lowe says, “The short term plans instituted in March have proven to be very successful. The Authority has been integrating its water systems, continues daily monitoring of production levels island wide and maximising efficiency through system assessment. We are grateful for the high level of cooperation from the general public towards good water management and we believe that this together with the measures employed by the Authority greatly averted what could have been a more challenging season.”
Lowe says in the long term, NAWASA will be prudently addressing leakages along the distribution network and seeking financing for water sources and network upgrade projects so as to ensure the availability of more water for equitable distribution. “Although we were blessed with some rains over the past few days, we are asking the public not to become complacent and to continue to have water stored to meet the daily needs of each member of their household,” Lowe stressed.