“The Water and Sewerage Corporation is presently executing a Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) Water Supply Improvement Project funded by a $28.33 million loan from the Bank and $13.3 million in counterpart funding from the Government of the Bahamas,” announced chairman of the corporation and Member of Parliament for Long Island Adrian Gibson.
This Project includes two projects in New Providence and projects on six Family Islands including Long Island, the chairman said during a press conference at the corporation’s offices Monday, December 18. Works are substantially complete in San Salvador and they are approaching substantial completion in Pinewood Gardens Phase B and Coral Lakes/Boatswain Hill in New Providence.
Phase 1 of the Long Island component included the delivery of two new water tankers, which were delivered earlier this year. Unfortunately, one tanker has sustained some damage and is presently in New Providence undergoing repair.
Phase II of the Long Island component includes the installation of 19 miles of new water mains to extend the existing Central Long Island system northward to Thompson Bay, just north of Salt Pond and southward to Lochabar, just south of Clarence Town. It is projected that this project will provide a piped potable water supply to 300+ homes and businesses for the first time.
With respect to Long Island supply logistics, the chairman said:
“I am pleased to announce that the tendering process will commence at 10:00 am on Thursday, December 21st with work starting on the ground by the spring 2018.
This project is divided into two lots as follows:
LOT NO. 1: North Long Island from the northern end of Salt Pond Settlement ending at Boat Harbour Drive, Gray’s Settlement
The design, supply and installation of approximately 45,000 feet of 4-inch PVC water main and 15,000 feet of 2-inch PVC water mains and 200 service connections.
LOT NO. 2: South Long Island from Turtle Cove in Stevens Settlement to the Southern end of Clarence Town Settlement
The design, supply and installation of approximately 26,000 feet of 4-inch PVC water mains and 14,000 feet of 2-inch PVC water mains and 100 service connections.
These works are expected to be completed within 14 months.
This project will also include the expansion of the existing Deadman’s Cay Desalination Plant and the supply of additional water storage facilities to ensure that the plant can produce sufficient potable water to meet the needs of ‘all’, and I stress ‘all’, residents and businesses from Thompson Bay to Lochabar on a 24/7 basis.
This multi-million dollar project will bring about a world-class potable water system for that part of Long Island.
CENTRAL LONG ISLAND NON-REVENUE WATER PROJECT
Let me also notify customers of the existing Central Long Island System that the Corporation is planning to start a Non-Revenue Water Project in the coming weeks to reduce the amount of leakage on that system. The Corporation’s team is committed to minimizing disruptions to customers and they will be using local resources as much as is possible.
PLANS FOR THE SIMMS SYSTEM AND NORTH LONG ISLAND
While I am greatly pleased that the Central Long Island System Extension works will finally commence by the first quarter of 2018, I am also painfully aware that too many residents in other parts of Long Island have had to endure the lack of piped potable water for much, much too long.
At each Board Meeting since my appointment, I have stressed to the Corporation’s Management team that I must have a comprehensive Water Supply Plan for Long Island, which includes South Long Island.
I am pleased to announce that my Board has recently approved two proposed projects that have been presented. As the Member of Parliament and as Chairman of the Corporation, it is now my duty to champion the effort to source the required funding for these two projects.
The first project involves the installation of 11.2 miles of new water mains to extend the existing Simms Water System northward thru the settlements of Deal’s, Bunches & Millerton and southward through Morris’ & Wemyss, including all side streets from Millerton to Wemyss with occupied homes and businesses. These works will increase the number of customers connected to this system from the present approximately 80 to over 255. Plans also call for doubling the capacity of the existing Simms Desalination Plant and a substantial increase in water storage capacity.
While talking about Simms, let me also add that the Corporation has successfully completed the installation of a 100% standby power generator to ensure that in the event of a power failure, there will be no interruption in water production or water supply to these customers. A similar system is already in place at our Deadman’s Cay Plant. This standby power generator will be installed and commissioned well in advance of the 2018 Hurricane Season and means no more unnecessary water supply disruptions for the Simms Water Supply System.
The second project involves the installation of 10.5 miles of new water mains to provide a piped potable water supply for the first time for the residents of Burnt Ground, Glinton’s and Seymour’s. These works will include a new desalination plant, pumping and storage facilities and will provide a world-class potable water supply to 265 homes and businesses in these three settlements.
Third, it is the hope of the Corporation to provide potable water to the sparsely populated settlements in the Deep South. We are exploring various options-outside of the traditional piped water supply-to accomplishing this goal. It is important to note that these persons, like many other Long Islanders, have been without decent, potable, running water for all of their lives.
We are looking at various approaches to have the aforementioned projects funded including public-private-partnerships and we will select the quickest and most feasible approach to funding this exercise.
CAPE SANTA MARIA AND STELLA MARIS RESORTS
The Corporation’s Team has also prepared estimates and preliminary designs to supply piped potable water to the resort communities of Cape Santa Maria and Stella Maris and, in due course, formal discussions will commence with these resorts to determine whether we can agree on a win, win Public-Private Partnership solution. I think we can all agree that the future sustainability of these resorts is dependent on our ability to provide world-class utilities and public services to the existing and future homeowners of these communities.”
Water & Sewerage Corporation Chairman Adrian Gibson. (BIS Photo/Derek Smith)
