GOVERNMENT ADDRESSES PROBLEMS WITH PUBLIC WATER SUPPLY
Minister for Communications and Works the Honourable J. Alvin Christopher
has updated residents on the measures government has
been taking to alleviate the territory’s water shortage problems.
“Honourable Members are aware of a number of problems that have been
taking place with the public water supply over the past months, but may
not be fully aware of what efforts are being made to address them,”
he said at the 23rd Sitting of the 1st Session of the 14th Legislative
Council, held Tuesday May 29th.
Reporting on plans to increase the water supply, he noted that Ocean
Conversion (BVI) Ltd. has increased its capacity by
approximately 200,000 imperial gallons per day. He also spoke of a recent
decision by Executive Council to assign a short-term
contract to Hydro Management Aqua Design to provide an emergency supply
of additional potable water from a temporary plant to
be installed on Tortola. “The Executive Council decision also called
for tenders to be invited for a long-term supply of potable water for
a period of up to 15 years,” the Minister reported.
On Jost Van Dyke, the service reservoir was recently loaded and the distribution
system charged. Mr. Christopher said leaks
observed in the distribution system are currently being repaired. He said
leaks in the reservoir have been reported to the supplier and
installer of the tank - the Florida Aquastore Company, who will cover
the necessary repairs.
Applications for connection to the system have been invited from proprietors
on Jost Van Dyke. At present, the Jost Van Dyke
Water Supply Company has been providing water on a production basis only.
On Anegada, the installation of the distribution system on Anegada is
now in progress. “It is expected that this phase of the project,
which covers the Settlement, would be completed by the end of the year,”
he said.
A number of remedial measures are also in the pipeline to improve the
water distribution system. Three major projects are on stream
- the Fort Hill Reservoir Replacement, the Belle Vue Road Pipe Replacement
and the Cast Iron Pipe Replacement Project.
“The 20-year old fibre-reinforced plastic paneled reservoir at Fort
Hill was demolished in April and is being replaced by two 300,000
gallon glass-fused steel reservoirs,” Hon. Christopher told the House.
He said the original tank had a capacity of approximately
275,000 gallons. He also said that the first of the two new tanks is 90%
complete and should be ready for testing shortly. Both tanks should be
commissioned by the end of July.
“The supply and distribution pipelines from the Fort Hill Reservoir
to the Butu Mountain turnoff on the Belle Vue Road have been
replaced in response to their frequent failures,” the Communications
and Works Minister continued. The new lines have been tested
and placed into operation. Road reinstatement as a result of the laying
of these new lines has now been completed.
The cast iron pipe replacement project is scheduled to continue as per
resources provided in this year’s budget. The Minister said
work is expected to start during the second half of this year. The areas
to be covered span from the Clarence M. Christian building on
Main Street, Road Town, over Abbott and Porter’s Road and down to
McNamara.
Government is also embarking on some new works, the major one being the
Pockwood Pond to Towers Pipeline. “This project is
expected to interconnect the existing distribution system branches at
Pockwood Pond and the Towers in the West End area. It will be
implemented within the second half of this year.”
The problem of arrears of billing for water services is said to be generally
current. “With improvements in the water supply situation
and with developments with the billing system, an all-out disconnection
programme for delinquent customers is expected to
commence during the month of June,” Hon. Christopher stated.
The Minister said with a view to accounting for all users of the system,
a reconciliation of the properties in the field with those in the
billing system is to be carried out in the second half of the year. For
those bills issued to the end of March, collections to date are
about $660,000.
[World News][What's New & Commentaries]
[BVI History, Attractions & Features] [Your Spot in the Sun]
[Legal][Contact Us][HOME]