The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

The Water and Sewerage Corporation’s (WSC) initiative to slash non-revenue water (NRW) losses has resulted in savings of $15 million  to-date, the Deputy Prime Minister said yesterday.

“The NRW programme has realised a reduction in losses from nearly seven million gallons per day to less than three million gallons on per day,” Philip Davis told the House of Assembly.  “Over 2.5 billion gallons have been saved to date. 

“This volume of water would cost $15 million to produce. With knowledge gained, WSC staff has been targeting Family Islands NRW reduction with success in various locations, but especially in Waterford, south Eleuthera, where water purchases from the desalination plant were cut by 50 per cent, saving about $0.3 million annually.”

Miya, the water efficiency solutions provider, which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Arison Investment Group, signed a 10-year, $83 million contract with the Water and Sewerage Corporation in 2012 to reduce the leakage from its distribution system.

It was part of an $81 million loan agreement between the Water & Sewerage Corporation and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) in December 2011, secured by a Government guarantee, for infrastructure improvements to the water systems on New Providence. The Corporation was at the time losing close to seven million gallons of water a day, which cost it more than $16 million per year.

Mr Davis continued: “The Wastewater Master Plan for New Providence is completed.  The design and bidding documents for sewerage works are prepared for tender.

“As well, a $41 million loan programme has been approved by the Caribbean Development Bank to address water improvement works in the Family Islands of Cat Island, Crooked Island, Eleuthera, Long Island, San Salvador, and South Andros.

“The CDB loan program mealso includes two projects in New Providence.  Contracts valued at more than $4 million were awarded, and construction commenced for new water supplies in the Pinewood, Coral Lakes and Boatswain areas of New Providence,” he added. 

“The total investment is estimated at close to $7 million inclusive of well testing and decommissioning, and yard pipework to accommodate public supply.”

Mr Davis said water quality issues continue to challenge the WSC in areas of New Providence with old cast iron pipes. “This requires continued investments to replace these pipes, along with additional water treatment enhancements to reduce corrosivity,” he added.

“While we have made tremendous gains in respect of NRW, losses are still high and will require further investments in replacement of inferior plastic pipes. In this regard, the WSC will continue its reduction of NRW efforts in New Providence and Family Islands. At least another 1.5 billion gallons are expected to be saved in New Providence during the next fiscal year.”

Mr Davis told Parliament that draft legislation now rests with the Attorney General’s Office to reform the sector, allowing URCA to assume responsibility for economic regulation of water, as it has with telecommunications and energy.