WASA: Water safe

While the Customer Service Bureau of the Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA) received a few complaints yesterday, the Authority assured that the water supply to areas affected by last Thursday’s shutdown of the Caroni Water Treatment Plant is safe and “of good quality.” Corporate Communications Manager Roxanne Lashley said tests on the water at the plant showed no bacterial contaminants. There has been no feedback on what caused the odour which residents, mainly in central Trinidad complained about last week. She said if members of the public detect any odour in the water in their taps they should allow it to run “a while.” Lashley blamed the shutdown of the Plant on pollution of the Caroni River, where the level of contaminants fluctuates. She said water at the facility is tested every hour and sometimes more frequently.

An investigator from the Environmental Management Authority visited  the Treatment Plant  yesterday inquiring into the closure. The same investigator was denied entry to the WASA compound last Friday. However, senior managers had to be contacted yesterday before clearance was finally given. EMA Corporate Communications Manager Neil Parsanlal said the EMA received a report last week about “difficulties” at the Plant. He said the EMA is mandated to conduct an investigation into the matter.   A water supply returned in north, central, and south Trinidad for residents who were without water for periods ranging from a few hours to 24 hours, starting from 9 am Friday because the plant was being “flushed” out.