Gonzales: WASA upgrade cost $16m, within time

MINISTER of Public Utilities Marvin Gonzales heartily congratulated WASA workers who  worked around the clock to do $16 million in upgrades to the Caroni Water Treatment Plant and its pipeline network over the preceding weekend. He spoke at a briefing at his St Clair office on August 12.

The workers were present, along with T&TEC colleagues who had assisted, along with WASA and T&TEC officials. The plant was supposed to have shut for 48 hours from midday August 9-midday August 11, but work was largely completed hours earlier than the deadline.

"I saw everyone put their shoulders to the wheel. There was exemplary performance and service on the part of every worker that played a role."

Gonzales said WASA managers and himself had all been out in the field, with T&TEC in a supporting role.

"Your work and sacrifice is recognised by citizens of good will."

He hailed workers for not letting their spirits be broken by naysayers, many of whom he said were fixated on things happening at WASA decades ago.

WASA director of operations Shaira Ali said the shutdown had let WASA do 23 projects in north and south Trinidad, boosting operational efficiency, water supply and service. She boasted of significant works done at WASA's booster stations at El Socorro, San Fernando, Savonetta and South Oropouche. Ali said critical work on the transmission system included valve replacement, strategic leak repairs and installation of meters.

"We completed all works way ahead of time," she said. In contrast to the original deadline of August 11 midday, she said work to supply south Trinidad was done by 8 am that day. Ali attributed the early completion to workers' "hard work, dedication and commitment."

She said a small setback at Piarco – a leak in the pipeline – was fixed by the night of August 11 by WASA operating in emergency mode.

"We have since restored supply to the north transmission system and by this morning, before 7 am, our critical boosters stations at El Socorro and the Valsayn A and B booster stations were restarted."

WASA director of corporate services Alisha Romano recalled working with workers at one project from August 9 at 7 am- August 10 at 11 am.

"We were all there on site, awake, drinking coffee. And T&TEC was there with us."

The project involved installing devices known as a flow meter and a pressure logger on the pipeline.

"This allows us immediately, after calibration of course, to actually perform what is known as a water audit. So we will now be able at each point to actually calculate the flows exiting."

She said if the volume of water flowing in the pipe was not equal to the volume leaving the plant, it meant loss owing to leaks or illegal connections.

"That is really a remarkable point that WASA has been able to achieve, because now we can better manage our network and ensure all our water reaches where it is supposed to reach."

Romano said she had been monitoring the number of customer calls to WASA during the shutdown and said it was fewer than expected.

"The public was really prepared," she effused.

In the question session, Gonzales hailed the Meteorological Office for doing forecasts for the whole Caribbean. He said by month-end, it would get a new satellite to help in that role. He said it could cost $1.2 million and arrive by the first week in September.

Asked about WASA's transformation plan, he said while media focus might be on employee retrenchments, he could show improvement with figures: the number of people with a 24/seven water supply grew from 32 per cent five years ago to 61 per cent now.

Romano said the upgrade involved 124 meters for off-takes on all transmission lines from Caroni, Chaguanass, Longdenville and El Socorro.