In an effort to constantly seek measures in ensuring the sustainability of water on Anguilla, a meeting was held on Wednesday 30th August 2016 with the Water Corporation of Anguilla and TSG Water Works (Anguilla), Ltd/ TSG Technologies (Anguilla), Inc. The top item on the agenda concerned the malfunctioning of some of the wells at the Well Field. Persons in attendance included members from the Water Corporation – Chairman, Mr. Christopher Richardson; Deputy Chairman, Mr. Mark Romney; Chief Executive Office, Mrs. Evelyne Apire Hodge; and Water Engineer, Mrs. Kahlea Clifton James; Permanent Secretary, Mr. Larry Franklyn, and Chief Engineer, Mr. Bancroft Battick, from the Ministry of Infrastructure, Communication and Utilities; and TSG Principal Mr. Don Mayer along with his technical team.
The discussion was held against the backdrop of the high conductivity, possible collapse of some of the wells resulting in a low yield in quite a number of the wells which produce the island’s brackish water. It is purported that the latter is due to the lack of priority given to the maintenance of the Well Field over the years. It is the view of TSG Water Works (Anguilla), Ltd/ TSG Technologies (Anguilla), Inc. that there is a high possibility that financial investments in improving the conditions of the Well Field can yield an increase in the Brackish Water Reverse Osmosis Plant of up to 100,000 US gals of water per day. This would help to alleviate the stressed areas including Rey Hill, Sachasses and Mount Fortune. These areas are currently experiencing low pressures of water supply.
However, the consensus was reached that before adopting such option, the abatement of the high Non Revenue Water must be a priority. Whilst the newly installed Sea Water Reverse Osmosis Plant with two trains and the Brackish Water Reverse Osmosis Plant with three trains are currently producing an average of 700,000 imperial gallons of water per day, less than 60% is realized in the billing system and is revenue producing. This is due to three main factors including broken pipes, illegal abstraction of water and faulty water meters.
Additionally, it was raised that it is important that the Corporation look at the safe yield of the wells against what we are currently extracting from the wells. A research document produced by a Canadian Company in 1986 revealed at that time the island was over-extracting three times its required “safe yield;” and the considerably low recharging of the wells, due to the recent and future drought predictions, creates difficulties in looking at the brackish water as a sustainable accompaniment for the Sea Water Reverse Osmosis method as the way forward for our water supply. Whilst the cost of converting the brackish water to potable water is much cheaper, its sustainability is questionable. Hence the Corporation may have to resort to increasing its water supply through the Sea Water Reverse Osmosis system. This option is on the table for consideration.
Chairman Richardson made it abundant clear that the Water Corporation of Anguilla has been working assiduously over the past fifteen months to bring some stability to the supply of water on the island; the progress is steady. He noted that in an effort to further enhance the efficiency of water supply the Corporation has recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with SCL Sales and Marketing Services out of Barbados to do a pilot project with Smart Metering. This is not a new concept to the Caribbean Region, however, it is new to Anguilla. The project should last for a period of approximately one year with a sampling quantum of one hundred Smart Meters. At the end of this project it is envisaged that these Smart Meters will replace our current meters. These meters are seemingly more reliable and more durable having a life of up to fifteen years with proper maintenance. The public will be given further advisory on the installation of these meters once the commencement date draws closer.
The meeting ended on a positive note as further discussions will ensue and measures will be pursued on further improving the water supply on the island.
– Press Release
