The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

The Water and Sewerage Corporation (WSC) has increased sales by 16 per cent despite slashing water purchases by one-quarter, its general manager said yesterday.

Glen Laville attributed the 25 per cent water purchase decrease to the success of its non-revenue water (NRW) reduction project.

“We have had excellent results. Right now we have reduced the amount of water we have to supply into the system by 25 per cent,” he said. “At the same time, we have increased our water sales by 16 per cent.

“Not only are we reducing the amount of water we have to supply, it’s an excellent model of how the private and public sector can work together.”

Mr Laville told a Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employers Confederation (BCCEC) luncheon that the Corporation has relied on”extreme levels” of Government subsidies over the past 10 years.

“Just for operating subsidies alone we have received $250 million over past 10 years. We want to change this trend. What we are trying to achieve is operational and financial stability,” said Mr Laville.

“We started implementation of the project in January 2013, and by the end of 2014 and coming into 2015 we have already reduced our water production by 25 per cent in New Providence. We have gone from supplying 12 million gallons a day to now only supplying nine million a day, while also getting increased sales.

“We have increased sales by 16 per cent. While we have reduced our expenses we have increased our revenue. To-date we have saved 1.4 billion gallons of water.”

Mr Laville said legislation to place the corporation under the Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (URCA), which will take over as its regulator, has been drafted and is with the Attorney General’s Office.

“In terms of the legal and regulatory framework we have already called the regulatory reform committee, and we have already drafted legislation which is presently with the AG’s Office,” he added.

“What this legislation seeks to do is put URCA in charge of the sector. For ground water pollution and also ground data management, we are going to put all of those responsibilities to the Ministry of Environment. We hope that this legislation will be introduced very early next year after electricity reform.”

The Corporation signed a 10-year, $83 million with Miya to reduce leakage from its distribution system. Perhaps the only persons unhappy with the relative success to-date will be BISX-listed Consolidated Water and its shareholders, given that they are now selling less water to the Corporation.