By Sue-Ann Wayow
THREE booster stations have been commissioned in Tobago which should improve Tobago’s water supply.
The stations were commissioned by the Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA) while Minister of Public Utilities Marvin Gonzales visited the island on Tuesday.
The three boosters are located at Shirvan Road, Buccoo, Golden Lane and French Fort, Calder Hall.
The Ministry of Public Utilities in a press release on Wednesday stated that the boosters will provide a more reliable water supply to approximately 2,900 residents from Crown Point, Culloden, Seaview, Henry Trace, and French Fort.
These areas would have previously received an inadequate water supply due to reduced flows during the dry season, the absence of interconnectivity, and in the case of French Fort, higher elevations, the release stated.
Gonzales, during his address, noted that residents from James Street, Goodwood; Hope Trace, Hope Village and Mason Hall along Les Coteaux Road, would soon be able to benefit from similar projects involving the construction of three booster stations and the replacement of existing long service connections.
The Public Utilities Minister was speaking at the launch of WASA’s Online Services for New Connections when he used the opportunity to highlight the many projects being implemented by the utility provider in Tobago.
These include eight projects that fall under the Tobago Water Supply Improvement Programme, which is geared towards reducing the number of scheduled areas, extending the times during which customers receive water, and improving the overall sustainability and reliability of the water supply.
These projects will positively impact 44,000 persons from communities in both Southwest and Northeast Tobago, the ministry stated.
Gonzales also announced that the desilting of the Hillsborough Dam was recently completed within budget and ahead of schedule.
As a result, the dam has been restored to its original storage capacity of approximately one million cubic metres, ensuring the availability of the maximum capacity for the upcoming dry season.
Other related works include the refurbishment of the Hillsborough Water Treatment Plant and replacement of 6.6 km of transmission main which will treat with issues arising from aged infrastructure, the release stated.
