No water in many areas but lots of broken pipes with water wastage
Many residents complain that when the Water and Sewerage Department is called the response time is allegedly poor while gallons and gallons of water run for hours, sometimes days, causing the serious challenge with water wastage in the territory.
Broken pipes water wastage
A resident, who did not wish for her name to be used, said “it seems like pipes break in the same area all the time...I live in Sea Cows Bay and down by the Arab store after you pass Nanny Cay it seems like every day a pipe is broken in that area and each time you call the water department all they do is turn off the water…”
Another resident claimed that there has been a water leak “at Sabbath Hill for weeks with water running like a ghut and it has not been addressed by the Water and Sewerage Department”, however residents through-out the Virgin Islands are out of water almost every day.
Reportedly, some in the Ministry of Communications and Works and the Water and Sewerage Department (WSD) have blamed the consistent broken pipes that lead to water wastage on aging infrastructure, strong water pressure, lack of human resources and poor workmanship during the installation of the pipes.
The Ministry of Communications and Works had announced earlier this year a hotline to call for broken pipes and frequent water outage, however, it remains unclear the efficiency of that hotline. It is reported that the calls go to the Fire and Rescue Department who still has to try and find a WSD personal to address the problem.
Aged pipes unable to withstand water pressure- Mc Master
Meanwhile, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Communications and Works Anthony S. McMaster told Virgin Islands News Online today, August 10, 2016 that the cause of the frequent water shortage in the Sabbath Hill area is largely due to lines being damaged by water pressure, now that a larger volume of water is in the system.
He said Government is currently sourcing materials to address that problem.
“I am aware there is a leak at Sabbath Hill and it is something that we are trying to address. We have ordered the materials and awaiting them to reach on island so that we can replace the lines. We actually have to replace the lines coming down Sabbath Hill to the Belle Vue junction.”
Those lines, according to Mr McMaster, “are a few years old and cannot take the pressure because as you know with Biwater coming on stream we have more water in the system and of course it’s a lot more pressure that you have to use to transport water to another area. We have designed a project whereby we are going to be upgrading those pipes.”
The Permanent Secretary said he suspects the issues at Sea Cows Bay are as a result of the same issue at Sabbath Hill “because we have to transfer the water from Sabbath Hill to Sea Cows Bay and that comes over the Ridge Road, so every time we have a breakage on the Ridge Road then obviously Sea Cows Bay and anyplace west of Sabbath Hill will be affected.”
Efforts to reach Director of Water and Sewerage Department, Perline Scatliffe-Leonard for further comment proved futile.
Lots of talk; water situation worse off
Within the last five years, the Virgin Islands (VI) has been rocked by severe water shortage with no end in sight, especially on Tortola and Virgin Gorda.
The Minister for Communications and Works Hon Mark H. Vanterpool (D4), has said some four times in the House of Assembly via statements about his government’s plans to address the third world like conditions of lack of water but to date there have been little or no improvements.
The National Democratic Party Administration has also been accused by the Virgin Islands Party Opposition, the media and civil society of delaying the Biwater project after the 2011 general elections for political reasons, causing the people on Tortola to suffer with no water for months.
Over the just concluded 2016 August Emancipation celebrations many communities on Tortola were out of water for days during the long holidays, causing embarrassment and discomfort to visitors and many overseas families.
Many residents on Tortola and Virgin Gorda who have access to water said it comes on early in the mornings then before 12 noon in most areas it is gone, and these conditions are causing many residents to suffer.
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25 Responses to “No water in many areas but lots of broken pipes with water wastage”
1. Some were not installed properly in the first place cause every Dick, Buddy and Harry is contractor in BVI.
2. Pipes stored in sun for long periods are damaged and still installed in the system.
3. When water is turned off the workers reopen the valves too fast to restart the system causing pressure to burst pipes.
And I can go on!!
Why?????
Water works pipes are treated for corrosion resistance and their walls are thicker. In addition these pipes are made up of fitted sections that allow some movement at the joints. A welded seam is too rigid. As can be seen, the crack is along that seam.
We used to have an engineer at public works but he was removed to secretarial duries. I doubt very much that there is a single engineering manuel in that department or anyone to read it.