File photo: Work being done on a 48-pipeline at the Caroni Water Treatment Plant in July. AZP News/Prior Beharry
THE Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA) says a harsh dry season and cutbacks in production at the Point Lisas Desal Plant are to blame for no water at Thick Village in Siparia.
Residents of Zachariah Avenue in Thick Village staged a protest on Tuesday to complain about getting water two to three days for the month.
In a release on Thursday, WASA stated it was aware of the issues facing customers in certain communities in the Siparia area, with respect to the reliability of their pipe borne water supply and has been working to improve the service to these areas.
WASA stated, “The areas in question, which includes Zachariah Avenue, are supplied by the Caroni Water Treatment Plant (WTP)/Point Lisas Desal transmission network, through a series of boosters and finally via the Thicke Village Booster.
“While the area is usually scheduled to receive a supply on rotation every nine days, the ongoing effects of the harsh 2024 Dry Season on reservoir levels at Arena in particular, as well as recent cutbacks in production at the Point Lisas Desal Plant, have impacted the Authority’s ability to maintain these schedules.
“Despite various schedule and system adjustments, some customers particularly those at the extremities, continue to be impacted negatively.”
WASA stated that in the short term, it has increased its water truck delivery capacity to the area and has been working closely with local government representatives, to address requests for truck borne service, to customers in these areas impacted by the current system challenges.
The release stated, “The Authority has also identified several projects for implementation over the coming months that will deliver an improved level of service to customers in these areas. This includes: installation of a 1.9km of 12-inch pipeline along Antilles Trace, from the corner of Tennant Trace and Woodlands Road, to the corner of Antilles Trace and San Francique Main Road; as well as 4.4km of 16-inch transmission pipeline along Woodlands Road, from M2 Ring Road to Tennant Trace, which are carded to start on the 1st December, 2024.
“Upgrade of Carapal WTP and the development of 10 new wells, which will directly benefit all areas supplied via Thick Village Booster Station. Upgrade works on the Carapal
“Plant and drilling of two new wells are currently ongoing. The Authority assures that it remains committed to working with all stakeholders, and carrying out the necessary infrastructural development works, to provide a reliable water supply to all our customers system wide.”
