OpinionUncategorized #BTColumn – Our water worries – a PdP review & response by Barbados Today 18/07/2020 written by Barbados Today 18/07/2020 4 min read A+A- Reset Share FacebookTwitterLinkedinWhatsappEmail 177 We are all aware of the cries for relief from the Barbadian public, particularly those living in our rural parishes, whose taps have been dry for prolonged, extensive and ongoing periods due to an unpredictable and unreliable water supply from the Barbados Water Authority (BWA). We are also aware that these householders have been complaining long and hard about their exorbitant monthly water bills (stemming from the Garbage and Sewerage Levy legislated by the current Government in its 2018 mini-budget) for water services that they have not used. Apparently, their cries to BWA that this is unfair have been falling on the proverbial “deaf ears”. This is untenable and unreasonable. We, the People’s Party for Democracy and Development (PdP), empathise with the inconveniences, rather hardships, which our fellow Barbadians have to endure due to water not reaching their households. Daily, they are unable to perform their domestic chores as well as maintain their personal hygiene and other health and safety functions. We all know that in the current COVID-19 pandemic environment, frequent washing of hands under running water is a requirement to keep the virus at bay. How can persons be expected to adhere to this requirement in the absence of regular running water? PdP urges for the regular and frequent delivery and distribution of water to deprived areas, so that householders who are already inconvenienced and whose lives are disrupted by uncertainties of when they will receive water can plan accordingly. We appeal also for the retention of standpipes, especially in water-stricken areas. Next, in the immediate short term, and as a temporary measure until other solutions are implemented, we are proposing to Government that it considers the importation of fresh water in bulk (not bottled water) for distribution to the affected parishes and communities. This water should be primarily for domestic (household) purposes and not for construction, civil works, or other water-consuming projects. Barbados’ currently high foreign reserves could be used to import and store freshwater in bulk just as we import and store oil for our energy needs. Aren’t we even considering doing the same with waste for a waste to energy plant? So why not do the same with water? PdP recognises that we cannot depend indefinitely on the importation of water and that there must be more sustainable medium- to long-term interventions and solutions to our recurring water problems. You Might Be Interested In #YEARINREVIEW – Mia mania Shoring up good ideas I resolve to… PdP supports the water conservation measures promoted through the Government Information Service (GIS) Public Service Education. We support the harvesting of rain-water for toilet, gardening, and agricultural uses, water recycling, and minimising water wastage. We propose that the Government institutes a cap on potable water usage at construction sites for major projects and civil works, and that recycled and harvested rainwater be used instead with checking and monitoring mechanisms put in place to ensure adherence. Just as private householders can be fined for inappropriate use of potable water for car washing, hosing of driveways, etc., similar restrictions should be imposed on other entities. Another matter of urgency is that of leaks in the system. As households are told to fix their leaks to eliminate water wastage, the Government should lead by example. BWA must act expeditiously and with urgency to fix reported water mains, which result in gallons of precious water gushing down our gutters. Additionally BWA must be more proactive in stopping the haemorrhaging within the system. BWA must invest, if it has not already done so, in acoustic leak detection and flow monitoring technology to remotely locate and fix and major unseen underground leaks. Use of this technology would result in reduced water loss and see an increase in water for distribution. On another important matter, we note, from statistics on the BWA website, that its level of Non-Revenue Water (44-49 per cent) is twice as high as the international benchmark level (23 per cent). This may be even higher based on a report in the December 31, 2019, Daily Nation, which cited the Minister of Energy and Water Resources Mr Wilfred Abrahams saying in the House of Assembly that 60 per cent of the water being pumped by the BWA was “unaccounted for”, resulting in the loss of significant revenue for the already cash-strapped and challenged BWA. This should not continue. Account for the “unaccounted for” water which is being diverted from billed households whose taps remain dry. Finally, the Government must be more innovative in solving the nation’s problems and think outside the box and accustomed paradigms. To this end, PdP advocates the introduction of the new emerging Atmospheric Water Generators (AWGs) technology to harvest water. AWGs extract water in pure distilled form from the air that surrounds us. A number of water-scarce countries are already using them. They can be powered electrically, or by renewable energy technologies (solar panels, or wind / biomass energy), and installed on domestic rooftops or on the ground for commercial enterprises. The PdP, like fellow Barbadians, expects an improved handling in the management and distribution of water by BWA and the Government. Dr. Philip Corbin PdP Spokesperson on Energy, Water Resources, and Telecommunications Barbados Today Stay informed and engaged with our digital news platform. The leading online multimedia news resource in Barbados for news you can trust. You may also like Paradigm shift long recognised in Caribbean Education 14/02/2025 Protecting student privacy – The urgent need for stronger data policies in... 11/02/2025 #BTColumn – Making our roads safe 09/02/2025