The government will need roughly $8 million to address flooding in New Providence, according to Minister of Works and Utilities Alfred Sears. Sears said the government will have a specific line item for drainage mitigation in the 2022/2023 budget.

“Each year, that amount will be increased,” he said.

“We also will be looking for sources of grant funding, so that we can move this process as rapidly as we can.”

The Ministry of Works intends to install a 600-foot well to assist with drainage issues in Pinewood, which suffers from severe flooding during heavy rainstorms.

Sears said the Water and Sewerage Corporation (WSC) is the only agency in The Bahamas that utilized such a well.

WSC’s well is at its treatment facility on Gladstone Road and is used to receive waste from the Baha Mar resort.

“This will be the first time that a well of that depth will be utilized for the purpose of drainage,” Sears said.

“In addition to that, we will be introducing an ACO StormBrixx system which will be installed in a number of the playgrounds [and] parks – underneath the ground – to receive the water.

“We’re also using a Wapro valve to install in the wells because currently one of the reasons why many of the wells have not been as effective as intended is because, during periods of high tide, the water basically comes up. Therefore, it negates the whole purpose of the well.”

Sears said the valve will suppress the water from coming up during high tide and allow rainwater to be drained.

He said the ministry has launched a “very aggressive” maintenance program to clear wells.

“That was done prior to this rain last week in a number of areas,” he said.

“If you speak to the residents of Pinewood, they will tell you that the dissipation of this period was much more rapid than it would have been previously.”

When asked about the cost of the initiatives, Sears replied, “The projected cost was around $8 million based on the analysis for these complex measures, this system that we are proceeding to implement. Time is of the essence because we are faced with more severe hurricanes and it is projected that this year will be an active hurricane season.”

Sears said the ministry will proceed with the implementation of these initiatives over three years.

Click here to read more at The Nassau Guardian