The south coast sewage crisis is on the mend, according to Minister of Energy and Water Resources Wilfred Abrahams.
Abrahams gave an update on the South Coast Sewage Project during a press conference at the Barbados Water Authority (BWA) headquarters this morning.
He said the southern belt was “better than pre-crisis levels” with the disposal wells not being used since December 21, 2018 and the bypass pump only on standby for use, as various sections of the sewer lines are being checked.
Abrahams also said the Greame Hall Swamp is on the rebound.
“We have come in eight months from sewage openly on the street to a situation where both of the sewer lines effectively have been repaired. The south coast sewage plant is operating at its capacity at the moment, Graeme Hall swamp which was receiving raw sewage for over three years is on the rebound, fish have come back, the water quality is great, smells have gone down, the mosquitoes have been controlled,” Abrahams said.
He added that the water in the swamp has remained at acceptable levels since the outfall was commissioned and the Environmental Protection Department has reported that the water quality samples have “comfortably passed” international standards for health and safety.
However, oceanographic studies of the beach will be continued to make sure that the 12-inch outfall does not impact the water quality of nearshore or offshore reefs.
Abrahams assured that the pumps at the South Coast plant have been adjusted to operate more efficiently and the BWA has stepped up significantly in the monitoring of the entire sewage network.
“I don’t want to say the crisis is over because I don’t want us to sit back and relax. I want to say that we are back to better than pre-crisis levels but the reality is that the crisis just showed what was wrong with the system and the Government has taken the decision that the entire sewage system in Barbados has to be overhauled and upgraded to tertiary,” he stated.
The Minister said the BWA is working to bring “a state of normalcy” and restore the sites at Graeme Hall Sanctuary, old Scotia Bank and Terra Caribbean.
“A flushing and jetting program of the sewer lines is commencing in earnest now that we have some control on the flow of the sewerage inflow and the outflow. We are also continuing testing of other areas of the lines using sonar and GPR technology to try to identify any other issues with the lines and take preventative steps where necessary to minimize events which may lead to service disruption,” he said. (KK)
Good job
Yup. This is great news. It needed to be done and had to be done.
“We have come in eight months from sewage openly on the street…. The south coast sewage plant is operating at its capacity at the moment, Graeme Hall swamp which was receiving raw sewage for over three years is on the rebound, fish have come back, the water quality is great, smells have gone down, the mosquitoes have been controlled,” Abrahams said.“
Where are the critics on this story? Can’t find them at all. This is a clear indication that they want Barbados to fail under a BLP administration. Well it ain’t gonna happen! The above is great news, indeed. This is just one of the many reasons the fine people of Barbados elected a BLP government — to get things done. The economy and growth is next on the agenda.
Not a single comment of congratulations from DLP yardfowls (and UPP greengiants) that the sewage crisis has been brought under control, at least for the time being. And Adrian Donovan is just remaining cool and calm, and paying them no mind while staying above the fray.
The sewage crisis could have been fixed under the last DLP administration but, at every turn, the thought was how they could “line pockets” while residents, businesses and tourism suffered. The multimillion-dollar ($8 million for 4 wells) injection wells were a case in point.
Note that the same BWA engineers and dedicated workmen are still on the job and got the problem resolved in quick time — six months. They circumvented each obstacle with technical know-how and professionalism. It was a matter of leadership that made the difference.
Congratulations to all for a job well done!
The economy (and growth), in addition to the illicit guns and drugs crisis left over by the the last DLP administration that are continuing the gun violence of past five years, are next on the agenda.
Does this mean that the SSA levy on water can be removed now?
Does this mean that the Sewage levy on water can be removed now?
@Carl Harper: If your’e looking for criticism from me you won’t find it here. All I will say is that I too am monitoring the impact if any on the beaches when the currents / tides change. I’m sure you said that earlier of well regarding the outfall pipe.
On the issue of guns, the former B L P administration left office in 2008 with the stresses well in place for this headache. The increase in firearm traders, and the screening / searching of containers at private warehouses. This issue is not an 2008 – 2018 created issue.
On the need for growth, It took long for the leader of the private sector, and a change in leadership of the economic society for the issue of growth to be placed on the table. Well, change is good most times, and in this case you too finally accept that without growth (sustainable it must be) we will never really recover. Loans from the IMF, IDB, CDB, or IADB alone will not help us recover.
I also await your reply to the theory Barbados using the Jamaica Model to debt and economic recovery. I would really like to hear from you on that recommendation continuously being presented by guest of this government.
Sounds good but the smell has been back in full force for the past week, maybe because of the bit of rain we have been having. So don’t think I’d stop the frequent checks just yet!
Wow, Greengiant! You are likening me to be some kind of economic guru to value my thoughts on the Jamaica model for debt and economic recovery. Thought that would be something to ask former PM Owen Arthur about more so than me. He also spent some time working in Jamaica and would have intimate knowledge of their economic downfall and recovery. I am just a lowly blogger who comment freely on the news of the day from my perch here in New York. But since you ask my opinion on the “model”, I just might give it at some point.
Not sure if a topic on “sewage” is the right place to expound on such a delicate and thought-provoking subject. But what I would say is, however, the circumstances that led both Jamaica and Barbados to the IMF are quite similar — low foreign reserves and high debt to GDP ratios due to mismanagement of the economy.
You must remember how we got here in the first place and should give credit to the current Administration for attempting to right the wrongs of 10 years and 90 days. It has only been eight months, with another four-plus years (and 90 days) to go, so try to restrain yourself from being “power hungry”.
Regrettably, your UPP does not have (and probably never will have) any track record to be held up to public scrutiny. Your only record is a sound defeat in the 2018 Polls and a leader who has “cast her net” in the country and town and lost on each occasion. Where to next?
The first order of business for anyone (or political party) who wishes to make a serious and indelible contribution to political life, is to be able to secure a seat (or majority) in the House of Assembly, and not just froth from the mouth In news conferences, Holiday messages and on Barbados Today news blog.
hahahahaaa
Carl yuh batting!
When the rains come again…….all shall be revealed.
And the Nasty don’t carish bajans and business people on the south coast connected to the sewage plant should be reveal too, expose and lock to RH up.
Good news hopefully business will now return to the small business men on the beach there too. That problem affected businesses on that part of the island way worst than most people realise. I for one would like to thank them for holding on and keeping the area alive until the fix came.
The slick BLP Owen Arthur Administration, built the troubled sewage project, knowing of the problems, all through the process. Following that, a number of illegal hookups contributed to bottleneck clutter, helping to choke the system. Now a sicker BLP Mia Mottley Administration comes along and fixes ( we hope) their own mistake, not in a jiffy as the present MPs had promised emphatically.The patch work now will be tested by mother nature. In the meantime, it is good residents don’t have to bear the funny smell of Adrian Donovan’s twisted mouth for the time being, while Abrahams will have to talk sewage, all the way to Bridgetown.
Often I wonder whether a focused and progressive dictator/one party state would be good for Barbados.
Ds, Bs,Ps and cannot bring themselves to praise progress made for the nation. The party lines always detract from.the good of the masses…
The few are always taken care of
A face tells a thousand stories, it sees the person heart.
So will the Former Cantankerous Minister of the $30 million Greenland Land fill make sure dem stop pumping Jobby in beach at Worthing now
@ VERONIVA BOYCE –
You never contribute anything to the discussion. Always a blank submission.
Why? Are you a crazy person?
The sewerage system is certainly better these days but the matter is far from completed and fundamentals not addressed.
I have watched daily as the autocratic American giant leading the actual work fails to inform either the workers or watchers of what he is doing or why.
He makes error after error enabling the BWA work team to enjoy unlimited overtime as they sit around whilst he fumbles technically.
Noone challenges him…… “What are you doing and why”
Furthermore many businesses are no longer connected to the S. Coast system but were forced to revert to their original individual septic tanks….. a time bomb problem. waiting to happen. again.
Finally BWA should insist…. by immediately turning off a water supply…. that ALL premises with illegal or non functioning grease traps are repaired immediately.
That is a robot Donild Trimp, a robot. LOL
@Breadfruit: “hahahahaaa. Carl yuh batting!”
LOL! I usually ignore most of those jokers, but Greengiant kinda stimulates me politically and intellectually.
Feeling like “batting” some more after that impressive West Indies win against England
@Carl Harper: Every bit of contribution has it’s worth in gold, I’ll never forget the words of the late David Thompson from the floor of our honorable house to the B L P opposition in 2008.
“You all behaving like your’e still the government, your’e in opposition now”. Also the B L P saying that government would have been a one term administration.
Maybe, just maybe similar signs are about now, so don’t attempt to divert the negative attention attracting this government. The role of each political party wishing to manage the country is to continuously engage the people. Media presents that opportunity more than at any time previously, and we will use it to our full advantage for the good of Barbadians. Don’t get ahead of yourself with predictions, as a political term is but a very long day. We will continue to engage the people regarding the deficiencies of this administration that has promised so much, but delivered very little so far. Sadly the’ mission critical’ process outlined in your covenant with the people has been personally critical to your party and it’s supporters, and have left Barbadians in critical condition, resting most uncomfortably in social, economical, and political I C U.
@Greengiant: “The role of each political party wishing to manage the country is to continuously engage the people.”
But “the people” rejected wunnah outright on May 24 and doan wanna hear wunnuh doh!
Hence, what makes you think that the UPP and DLP possess any moral authority to “engage” Barbadians who have dismissed your weak message and utterances? Wunnah gotta first win a seat in de House.
Wheel and come again, Greengiant!
Happy for those on the South Coast.
Now…can we get some water flowing consistently from our faucets in St.Thomas…
This lack of running water has persisted from December until now, despite reports in the media of “recent” outages.
I really hope this is a good start , it’s only a good start after at least 3 years of mess. I’m also a little careful in any comments as it’s been a very dry time and the story would be drastically different there was a deluge of rain. We love ❤️ B’dos , spent 20 plus years travelling to South Coast , right at the epicentre. We decided to give B’dos a pass for a few years. Hoping to return. Almost every picture in our home is B’dos .
I suppose it could have improved and fixed sooner if they hadn’t spent so much time standing, sitting and discussing what to do.