Consumer group backs calls for St Lucy bill cuts for brown water

Residents of St Lucy are being advised to form a protest movement against the Barbados Water Authority (BWA) in an effort to have their water bills slashed or waived, following concerns over water quality in the rural northern parish.

The Barbados Consumer Empowerment Network (BCEN) has thrown its support behind residents who argue they should not be forced to pay for substandard service. The consumer advocacy group’s stance comes in response to complaints from St Lucy inhabitants about discoloured water, potentially contaminated by recent heavy downpours.

Maureen Holder, executive director of BCEN, said in a press statement on Friday: “Discoloured water, even with increased chlorination, poses health risks and forces residents to bear additional financial burdens, such as purchasing bottled water or installing filtration systems. Expecting them to pay full price for compromised water is unjust.”

The BWA and the Ministry of Health issued an advisory on Wednesday urging residents to boil tap water, as routine post-flood testing revealed an increased presence of brown water in various parts of the parish. The state-owned water utility acknowledged its ongoing programme of mains replacement in the area and the possibility of flood water infiltrating the distribution system.

Despite the BWA’s efforts to address the issue by increasing chlorination, residents argue that the water quality remains unacceptable. Some have stated that decades of poor water service have reached unbearable levels in recent weeks.

Holder suggested that residents might have a strong case for compensation, recommending they seek independent water quality testing. “If tests show compromised water quality, then this evidence could strongly support their case for discounts or waivers, especially if BWA’s policies lack clear provisions for such occurrences,” she said.

BCEN urged the affected residents to submit formal complaints collectively, either by forming a community group or working through government consumer protection organisations such as the Fair Trading Commission and the Office of Public Counsel.

Holder also advised residents to research precedents in Barbados where customers have received relief due to water quality issues, noting that this could provide valuable leverage in bolstering their claims.

The consumer group called on St Lucy MP Peter Phillips to lobby on behalf of the residents, emphasising the need for urgent action to address the ongoing water crisis. (SZB)