Northwest, northeast communities without water

DOZENS of communities, most in northeast and northwest Trinidad, may likely face extended periods without pipe-borne water, after the Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA) temporary halted operations at a growing number of water treatment facilities.

The facilities are all fed by surface water from rivers, some of which have burst their banks over the past few days of heavy rains.

Operations are hampered when (measurement of silt and other debris in water from a river or lake) when water levels become too high.

The facilities only become properly operational when water levels return to normal  and they are cleared.

However, floods have accounted for only some of the disruptions.

On Sunday, WASA released an updated list of affected facilities and the areas without water or facing major shortages.

Areas in the northeast region, whose treatment facilities were affected by river conditions, include:
Matura
Toco
Balandra
Valencia
La Pastora
Lopinot
McDavid Trace and environs
Maracas, St Joseph
Santa Rosa
Wallerfield
Malabar
El Dorado
Tacarigua
parts of Tunapuna.

There is reduced water production in North Oropouche, owing to turbid river conditions.

In the northwest, river conditions have affected facilities along the North Coast, interrupting the supply to almost the entire area, as well as in upper St Ann's.

In Tobago, only one facility, at Hillsborough West, is out of operation, affecting Bacolet and neighbouring communities.