The CWSA (Central Water and Sewage Authority) is implementing measures to alleviate any water scarcity resulting from declining precipitation and new developments.
According to a study, the average annual water supply or rainfall over the past three decades was approximately 85 inches. Based on the study, the amount of rainfall in 2023 was 22% lower than the average rainfall over the past 30 years. It is projected that this year, 2024, the amount of rainfall will remain the same or decrease even further.
Last Wednesday, Winsbert Quow, the manager of the CWSA, stated that the firm is considering expanding its water storage infrastructure, particularly to accommodate the needs of new developments and diminishing rainfall.
“As you know, we are building a storage tank right now at Twenty Hill that will take into consideration Sandals Resorts that’s been developed; it’s a 250,000-gallon storage tank based on usage and demand.”
“We have also purchased some lands to develop a water source treatment facility at Francios,Vermont. As you know, the Dalaway water system supplies about 40% of our population, including our business district. So the new water source in Francios will augment the Dalaway water supply.”
Additionally, Quow mentioned that the company’s priority is on water conservation. They have collaborated with BRAGSA to examine waste, particularly in government institutions.
“We’ve been trying to work with BRAGSA to look at the wastage of water, especially in government institutions. Those are not so well managed, like schools. You know, these systems have high usage, and so we want to make sure that those plumbing systems are of good integrity because they could waste a lot of water.”
Quow stated that at the community-level CWSA is actively monitoring the situation.
“At the community level, standpipes and so forth. We are looking at those areas where we have a lot of standpipes, and especially if we have high usage of water unaccounted for, we may have to look at giving individual connections and removing standpipes because they’re often abused”.
With technical and financial backing from PAHO and CEDEA, the Central Water and Sewerage Authority was formally born in 1970, with the most senior position being that of general manager.
Prior to 1984, pipe-borne water to homes and other places of dwelling was limited, and standpipes were common throughout every community in St. Vincent. The construction of the two major water supply systems, Dalaway in 1958 and Jennings, which was commissioned in 2007, along with several smaller sources, saw the provision of pipe-borne water to 98% of St. Vincent.
Today, the CWSA has a total of 12 water catchments on mainland St. Vincent and is well placed to provide top-quality services in an efficient and affordable manner to every customer.
