Officials of the Water and Sewerage Corporation (WSC) inspected the water plant at the site of the former US Navy Experimental Facility in Eleuthera, Friday, December 21, 2018.

The plant supplies water for the settlements of Gregory Town, Hatchet Bay, James Cistern, Governor’s Harbour, Palmetto Point and Windermere Island. The facility holds four water tanks. Two are currently in operation. The purpose of the visit was to ensure that the plant is operating at its maximum capacity.

Adrian Gibson, Executive Chairman, WSC, said one of the tanks is in operation, one was recently refurbished, consideration is being given to refurbish a third tank and there are plans to demolish the fourth tank.

“We are exploring costs and the possibility of completely bringing in a new tank. Two will carry the island. Each has a capacity of 420,000 gallons. If water shuts off for 2-3 days, Eleuthera would be good,” said Mr. Gibson.

“The first tank was recently done at a cost of $220,000. This one [second tank] remains in operation and we’re looking at some point to decommission it to do some restorative work, realign and refurbish it all together. It has some leaks at the base.

“We are going to demolish the fourth tank and use the space for something else. We are exploring the cost to repair the third one and possibly bringing a new tank at a cost of $400,000. We don’t necessarily need a third, but it would be good to have because Eleuthera is expanding.”

The present water storage capacity at the old navy facility is approximately 800,000 gallons. Water can be supplied for 4-5 days if there is an emergency; formerly it was 1-2 days.

The corporation has plans to conduct similar inspection exercises in other Family Islands.

Elwood Donaldson, General Manager; Cyprian Gibson, Assistant General Manager and Thomas Desmangles, Distribution Operations Manager were also a part of the team who toured the water plant at the old naval base.

One of the four water storage tanks at the US Navy Experimental Facility in Eleuthera.

Officials view the water storage plant at the US Navy Experimental Facility in Eleuthera. Shown from left: Thomas Desmangles, Distribution Operations Manager; the Adrian Gibson, WSC Executive Chairman; Cyprian Gibson, Assistant General Manager; and Elwood Donaldson, General Manager. (BIS Photos/Patrick Hanna)

By Kathryn Campbell