By Sue-Ann Wayow
FOR more than a month, residents of Cedros and Icacos have been plagued by an unsteady water supply either through their pipes or via trucks.
The main reason according to local government councillor for Cedros Shankar Teelucksingh is that the Granville Water Treatment Plant does not have updated, functioning equipment.
Additionally, leaks that are being reported are not properly repaired, he said.
The latest interruption stemmed from a major accident in Cedros when a vehicle slammed into a light pole and equipment from electricity workers damaged the eight-inch diameter pipeline at LP 218 Southern Main Road Cedros last week.
The pipeline has since been repaired and the Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA) issued a notice stating that from April 23 to April 28, an interim water supply schedule will take place at Icacos Inland Road, Bilwar Trace, Lala Road, Sieurelal James Road, Uncle Ben Road, Cedros, and Coromandel.
Granville and Syphoo Trace should have an interim supply up till Tuesday and Bamboo Viillage is scheduled for a supply from April 28 to April 31.
Teelucksingh questioned the distribution supply to the southern end of Trinidad because he said some areas were receiving 24-hour supply of water while other areas were receiving none.
From Granville to Icacos, there were about 15 leaks, all reported to WASA he said.
One major leak was right in front of the Cedros Community Centre blocking access to the entrance.
Teelucksingh said, “The leaks are being repaired, but the problem is they are not being repaired properly. There is no well maintenance in place for maximum throughput at the Granville well. The high lift pump is outdated and the standby generator, it does not seem to be operational. Major upgrade is needed for the well and it does not seem to be given priority.”
He said the last time, the areas had full access to water was in 2017 following major protests by residents when a comprehensive plan was in place. But in 2018, problems began occurring again.
It is also alleged that private water trucks were benefitting from the irregular water supply, Teelucksingh said.
Happy for the rain
One resident from Bilwar Trace who did not want to be named told AZP News, “Right now, we are happy for the rain. We have spoutings that we catch water from and it fills up all the tanks.”
The 59-year-old resident also said members of the household get water via a well dug in the back of the house by the previous occupiers.
She said, “For years, we have been suffering with water. WASA is telling you, you cannot get water unless you pay your bill but people are saying they are not going to pay their bills because they are not getting water anyway.”
The resident said those living on the main road may get water perhaps once a month but those in the side streets scarcely get any water either in their pipes or from WASA trucks.
“If you do get water from the trucks which is like once every six months, you are getting a half tank only,” she said.
Sometimes they pay a private supplier $150 to fill a 400-gallon tank, the resident said.
Minister of Public Utilities Marvin Gonzales has been contacted by AZP News for comment on the issue.
Apart from the water interruption in Cedros, WASA on its social media pages also advised the public of several other unplanned water interruptions due to varying issues.
These include:
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Arima Well #15 – defective chlorinator – Restoration date (April 26 at 4 pm)
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Chacon Street Booster Station – mechanical problem – Restoration date (April 25, 12 noon)
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Talparo – leaking six-inch diameter between LP 462 and 463 Mundo Nuevo– Restoration date ( April 26 at 6 pm).
In Tobago there were also unplanned water interruptions and a planned interruption at the Zion Hill Booster due to a planned power outage by the Trinidad and Tobago Electricity Commission (T&TEC).
