According to information from the Water Corporation of Anguilla (WCA), as much as 80% of the water that is locally produced by reverse osmosis leaks into the ground. That figure is astounding because it means that only as little as 20% of the water generated ever reaches consumers.
No wonder there are constant water shortages and outages that plague our people every week. Sharing 20% of the water produced among some five thousand households just can’t cut it – not to mention business places, offices, and some farmers that depend upon “government water”. In some cases, some households have not received running water from the WCA over a number of days on end, and they are, indeed, desperate and frustrated too.
It is clearly understood that the water distribution network in Anguilla is in a state of dire disrepair. The old metal pipes have rusted and grown thin. Leaks in deteriorating, rusty steel pipes are inevitable after being buried in moist soil for multiple years without due maintenance and attention. There is where the problem lies. Under those conditions, yes, eighty percent of water generated would most likely be wasted.
Whatever has been done by previous governments to alleviate the growing water crisis has not been enough. Now, with all this water going to loss, it means that in order for this mammoth problem to be solved, this current Government and, in particular, the Ministry of Infrastructure, will, in local colloquial terms, “have its hands full.”
During his 2023 budget address, the Honourable Premier Ellis L. Webster rightly said that food security and water security are intertwined. And during that budget address it was revealed that an amount of EC$5 million is earmarked for the island’s water distribution improvements. But the question is: Is that EC$5 million sufficient to take care of the island’s water woes? The WCA must know what its needs are to rectify this on-going, embarrassing situation.
Notwithstanding, the Premier did say that the EC$5 million investment will serve in a phased approach to solving Anguilla’s water crisis – a “phased approach”.
We do not expect this huge water problem to be rectified overnight, but The Anguillian reached out to the Honourable Minister of Infrastructure, Mr. Haydn Hughes, to get some clarity as to what this phased approach to solving the problem really means.
The Minister remarked: “The water distribution network has been in terrible and irreparable shape for many years. To that end, it was determined, based on professional analysis, that over 80% of the water is lost in leaks.
“The WCA has not been in a good financial position for well over five years. We are investing in the rehabilitation of the water distribution network as this administration seeks to remedy this untenable situation.
We are confident that water is a viable entity and it is an essential service and only significant investment can remedy the long standing issues.
We are moving ahead with the remedial action in a phased approach given government’s financial and budgetary constraints.”
Well, as the saying goes, “Half a loaf is better than no bread”. We appreciate the investment (though little it might be) that the Government has made in order to “assist” the cash-strapped Water Corporation of Anguilla and, by extension, assisting its people by making the effort to supply their water needs in a “phased” approach.
Perhaps, as Government coffers become more lucrative throughout the months ahead, by the time the 2024 Budget rolls around, Government should be in a better position, with a clearer vision, to be able to allocate at least EC$10,000,000 instead of EC$5,000,000 towards the 2024 Water Works for more speedy repairs of the water distribution network.
