A screen capture of the Water for Life website.??

Barbadians can expect an improved level of service from the Barbados Water Authority (BWA), as it seeks to honour its part of the bargain in keeping with the announced 60 percent increase in water rates.

Project Manager with the BWA, Charles Marville, yesterday gave the assurance that the increase was "but one half of the contract," with the BWA now expected to deliver?? on the other half?? in order to foster a mutually-beneficial?? arrangement.

He was delivering an address on the behalf of Minister of the Environment, Water Resources and Drainage, Dr. Denis Lowe, during the launch of the ???Water for Life’ website at the Savannah Hotel. The BWA is a key partner in the initiative, which is spearheaded by Advantage Systems Inc.??

In this regard, the BWA official outlined a number of major projects which were in train, including the establishment of a Bds $50 million reverse osmosis treatment plant to reduce nitrogen levels at the Belle and Waterford pumping stations; a Bds $15 million mains replacement programme, and a Bds $51 million project to meet an increased demand along the island’s south-east corridor.

"The BWA will also use this web site to post information as it seeks to address the demand for water by housing and commercial developments in the south-east corridor of the island.??

"It is projected that this new demand for water will rise to the level of five million gallons, per day, and will require a new source of this order as well as the strengthening of existing delivery systems and the establishment of new ones," he revealed.

Mr. Marville said the website, which was available since June, would also become an important tool in the dissemination of information as the Authority begins the development of the West Coast Sewerage System. He pointed out that it would entail the establishment of a sewerage collection network from Six Men’s, St. Peter to Bridgetown, and a tertiary sewage treatment facility, which would replace the Bridgetown Sewage Treatment Plant at Ellerton.

"This new system will allow for the reuse of treated wastewater either for golf course and agriculture irrigation, commercial cooling purposes, or for aquifer recharge," he explained.?? He further added that the upgrade of the treatment level at the South Coast Treatment Facility would see the Authority comply with the Cartagena Convention and "stop the dumping of precious fresh water resources out to sea."

The BWA official also noted that they would be engaging the Inter American Development Bank (IDB) in funding a number of institutional strengthening activities, including a number of computer-based systems, aimed at allowing the BWA to better plan, manage and operate its water delivery systems and thus improve its response times.

Customers can avail themselves of the various services offered by the BWA; correct water use and practices, as well as information on environmentally-friendly waste disposal practices, rates and updates on BWA projects via the site at http://www.barbadoswater.net.

cgaskin@barbados.gov.bb

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