Public unbothered by planned WASA plant shutdown

WATER and Sewerage Authority (WASA) customers seem to be unbothered by the company's planned shutdown of the Caroni Water Treatment Plant (WTP), which is set to affect almost a third of the population.

At a media briefing on August 2, CEO Kelvin Romain, director of operations (acting) Shaira Ali and director of corporate services (acting) Alisha Romano explained the plant will be shut for 48 hours – from midday August 9-midday August 11.

A recent statement said homes could face a further wait of up to 48 hours before water returns, although Ali said it would be six-12 hours for areas in north Trinidad.

The Caroni plant supplies 75 million gallons per day, or 31 per cent of TT's water supply, and Romain said the "pause" would allow essential upgrades.

He said it would facilitate WASA's installation of some 123 bulk meters to help monitor its water flow and provide a more efficient and equitable service. Romain said data from the meters would be fed into WASA's new Operations Control Centre at St Joseph to help in decision-making and the detection of leaks.

The pause will also allow the servicing of valves in WASA's pipelines, he explained.

Romain said, "We encourage customers to store water, utilising their tanks." He promised a truck-borne supply would be operating during the pause.

However, multiple customers told Newsday they were either unaware of the planned shutdown or did not expect to be bothered by it, as they did not have a daily water supply anyway.

A woman in Port of Spain asked, “They having a what?” She added, “I ain't even hear about that. I don’t know nothing about any shutdown, but it doesn’t matter with them (WASA) anyhow.”

Another couple said they were unaware of the planned shutdown but added, “We have tanks anyway, so we are prepared in any event. Let’s just hope people have things in place, though.”

One business owner in Port of Spain said he was aware of the planned shutdown, but already had a water tank.

“Based on the normal water situation, we already have tanks in place, so it might not affect the business that much. But we hope that they bring it back as fast as possible.”

He said he had arranged additional measures he could implement if water did not return to the pipes within 48 hours after the planned shutdown.

“I also made arrangements with water trucks for next week, just in case I don't get water in time.”

A man named Sean said his neighbourhood built “community water tanks” as it was always on a water schedule, and he believed that should be sufficient.

“We get water by us three, sometimes four days for the week. So I am praying that the community water tank will supply us for that time.”

He said he had not considered increasing his personal water storage capacity, but said he would do so, based on the conversation with Newsday.

“I hope the community tanks don't deplete too quickly, because I will be in big (trouble), because I don't have anything right now. I have one bucket. That's all I have – one bucket.

"So I might go and buy another bucket and one of those large water bottles with the tap on it.”

A woman named Afiya who lives in the hills of Santa Cruz said she was not concerned at all.

“I live in the bush and I don't get water all the time, so it's no big deal. I have the regular things home, like my drums filled with water and everything.”

She took the opportunity to lambast WASA and said it should do more to ensure a regular supply of water to all areas of TT.

A man named Kevin said it would be “business as usual” for him and his family.

“I have a tank supply of water anyway, so that should rally me, I would imagine. There are times when we might have not had water and just been unaware of it, because we would have had the tank supply as the backup.”

Another man who gave his name as Taz told Newsday, “We put things in place from long time, because you know it’s long time that WASA playing up. So we have our tanks and we bought our pump.

“The lack of water is nothing new to me,” he added.

However, a Port of Spain businessowner named Mary took a more measured approach to the situation, as she said there was no need to “bash WASA as yet.”

She said people should see the two-day shutdown as a small sacrifice.

“It's just a matter of two days or three days. They are doing it in order for us to get improvement, better conditions.

"One of the complaints we all have as citizens is that WASA is not reliable. It is because of that they are saying, 'Give us these few days that we could improve.' I don't have a problem with that.”

However, one of her customers said the bashing should be conditional.

“Don’t say we can’t bash them. If after the repairs it’s still the same nonsense and we haven't seen any improvement, then we can bash them.

"Then they deserve it.”

AFFECTED AREAS

North Trinidad (served by Valsayn booster stations): St Augustine, Champs Fleurs, Mt Hope, Santa Cruz, San Juan, Bagatelle, Laventille Road/Febeau Village, Success Village (Laventille), Malick and Trou Macaque.

North Trinidad (served by El Socorro booster station): Barataria, St Ann’s, Morvant, Cascade, East Dry River, Dibe/Long Circular, Port of Spain, St James, St Barb’s, Cocorite, Gonzales and Belmont.

Central-South Trinidad: Piarco, Caroni, North and South Bank Rd, Cunupia, Endeavour, Chaguanas, Jerningham Road, Lange Park, Longdenville, Felicity, California, Caroni Savannah Road, Korea Village, Bank Village, Waterloo, Carapichaima, St Mary’s, Mc Bean, Couva, Windsor Park, Esperanza, Claxton Bay and Philippine.

Southwest Trinidad: Debe, Avocat, South Oropouche, Penal, Rousillac, La Brea, Siparia and Fyzabad.