No smelly festival - RT sewerage overflow diverted to ghut
Speaking to Virgin Islands News Online, Acting Deputy Director of the Water and Sewerage Department (WSD) Bernard Grant, explained that the step was taken as a temporary and precautionary measure as no one wants to have a smelly festival or to be parading in sewerage water during the festivities. The ghut where the diversion has been sent is located next to the festival village and runs behind the House of Assembly building.
He further explained that what has been done now is nothing different to what has been happening before regarding the overflow, however, the difference is the overflow will no longer run on the road.
Regarding any impact such a move will have on businesses in the area, Mr. Grant said the overflow is only occasional and the move is precautionary, however, he said in the event that any smell emanates from the ghut, there are chemicals on hand to address the odour by flushing the ghut.
Asked about the status of the new pump that is expected to be installed and help to rectify the Road Town sewerage issues, he explained that it has already been built to specification and was expected to be shipped on July 20, 2012.
However, he further revealed that the Minister for Communications and Works Hon. Mark Vanterpool did not want to start that “kind of work” two weeks before festival and the worse situation is that it may not have been finished in time for festival, therefore it was decided that works will commence after festival.
On June 27, 2012, Government signed a contract for $163,967 to improve the Road Town pumping station with Bio Safe contractor Patrick Mitchell.
“The sewerage solution is one of the highest priorities of Government over the next few years, particularly in East End and Road Town. Today’s signing with Bio Safe Treatment and Septic Solutions is geared to improve the Road Town pump station so that the rest of works being carried out will culminate with this phase signing off on…the contract will gear towards remedying the problem the Territory sees of sewerage overflow on streets and collapse pipes. The works are focused on the Road Town pump station and replace all the pumps to achieve a higher level of efficiency of pumping sewerage,” Minister for Communications and Works Hon. Mark Vanterpool had told journalists.
The remedial project, Hon. Vanterpool had added, will be done until his Government can build a treatment plant at Bird Point.
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