WASA reservoirs near full, but restrictions still in effect

The Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA) is reporting that its reservoirs are at 90-100 per cent capacity at the start of the dry season.

WASA posted reservoir levels as of January 14 on its Facebook page on Thursday.

In a brief phone interview with Newsday on Friday, WASA communications manager Daniel Plenty said water restriction implemented last year have not yet been lifted.

The dry season is expected to last from January to May.

WASA put the restrictions in place, with some areas on a rotation schedule, to conserve water while reservoir levels recuperated during the rainy season. Several areas last year reported not having running water for weeks at a time.

MP for Couva South Rudranath Indarsingh said he still receives a few calls from Freeport residents who still complain of not having access to running water.

Indarsingh said he was part of a meeting with WASA CEO Alan Poon King, along with MP for Tabaquite Anita Haynes and MP for Caroni Central Arnold Ram in the latter half of last year to discuss remedies to the problem.

“It was identified there was a need for two projects for infrastructural development which focused on laying approximately 5km of pipe.”

He said while no final figure was given, the project was expected to cost in the vicinity of $10 million.

“That would have been sent to the board for approval before execution,” he said. The project is expected to improve the water supply for constituents of Couva South and portions of Caroni Central and Tabaquite.

He said since then, the MPs have not heard from Poon King He said he is in contact with his constituents and plans to have a follow-up letter prepared to be sent to Poon King soon.

MP for Moruga/Tableland Michelle Benjamin said in her time as councillor, members of the Tableland community protested every yearover its lack of a proper water supply.

“WASA would issue a schedule, but they don’t usually stick to it, and the residents go sometimes four to six weeks without water in some areas,” said Benjamin.

She said the issue is switching out the old WASA mains.

“They are trying some water trucking in some areas to better reach the residents, but some residents are forced to purchase, which is unfair to them.”

Current reservoir levels v long-term averages (LTA):

Caroni/Arena Reservoir: 94.02%; LTA 94.35 %

Hollis Reservoir in Valencia: 90 per cent; LTA 92.08 %

Navet Reservoir: 99.51%; LTA 94.41%

Hillsborough, Tobago: 100%; LTA 95.79%