The Water and Sewerage Corporation (WSC) recently began a 3-month pilot programme to improve the overall water quality in New Providence, beginning in areas that encompass approximately 70% of the island’s water demand.

The pilot programme has introduced SeaQuest, a certified drinking water corrosion control sequesterant, which is used by water industry professionals in the USA, Puerto Rico, Jamaica, Guyana, Virgin Islands, and Trinidad.

The pilot is testing the effectiveness of the product SeaQuest to address water quality challenges generally associated with aging infrastructure and aggressive water such as desalinated sources.

“WSC has been taking several steps over the years to address water quality challenges caused by ‘old’ water mains and exacerbated by the increased use of desalinated water,” said Glen Laville, WSC General Manager.

“WSC continues to look at several post-treatment options like Seaquest to help improve our water quality to customers. Together with our successful water loss reduction program, we want to better serve our present customers, and entice those that have alternate means of water supply to come back or join us for the first time”.

This new water treatment programme has several potential benefits including lower chlorine dosages required for disinfection, reducing the amount of water used for flushing mains and minimizing the use of filters, the removal of scale and build up in the water distribution system and minimizing the need for costly pipe replacement.

“The Corporation is already seeing some benefits such as a decrease in the amount of chlorine required for disinfection and will continue to monitor its effectiveness over the pilot period,” said Michael Swann, Senior Quality Manager, WSC Water Quality Unit.

“This is just one more step in the Corporation’s mission to become more efficient and other initiatives are underway and planned for 2015.”

The Water and Sewerage Corporation was established through an Act in 1976 with full responsibilities for managing, maintaining, distributing and developing the water resources of The Bahamas.

The Corporation has a team of over 400 dedicated employees in New Providence and the Family Islands, committed to the growth and excellence in service quality, which is the key driving force that guides and sustains the relationships with customers, employees, and communities served by the Corporation.

Through a loan with the IDB in 2011 the Water and Sewerage Corporation has developed the WSC Support Program to address Non-Revenue Reduction, WSC Institutional Strengthening, Rehabilitation and Upgrade of Wastewater Infrastructure and Preparation of a Wastewater Treatment Master Plan and an upgrade of the Legal and Regulatory Framework. The Support Program will ultimately improve the quality of water and service to customers.