WASA hit by lack of rainfall

In a release yesterday, the Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA) said one such facility was the North Oropouche Water Treatment Plant in Valencia, a major water source for north-east Trinidad.

This plant normally produces 20 million gallons a day (mgd). However, because of extremely dry conditions over the past four to five months, the river level has greatly reduced and was now at normal production, or 13 mgd.

This shortfall of about seven mgd has impacted on the authority’s ability to maintain its normal schedules to areas such as Sangre Grande, Guaico, Manzanilla, Coryal, La Horquetta, Malabar Phases 1, 3 and 4, Tumpuna Road South, Brazil Village, San Raphael, O’Meara Road, Carapo, Mausica Road, Crescent Gardens, Maloney, Oropune Gardens, and Five Rivers.

Several smaller localised surface water treatment sources that provide various communities mostly in north Trinidad were also under production due to dry- weather conditions.

These areas include: Lluengo/Naranjo and Acono in Maracas, St Joseph; La Canoa, Susconosco and Grand Curacaye intakes in Santa Cruz; Maraval Waterworks and Moka Wells 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5; Caura in Tacarigua; Aripo and Guanapo in Arima, and Tompire and Matura in the Toco area.

The authority said in keeping with its Dry Season Water Management Plan, it has been prudently managing the use of water in its main reservoirs in Arena, Navet, Hollis and Hillsborough. These reserves were now at about 40 per cent capacity, which was just below the long-term average for each.

To address the shortages, WASA has increased its water trucking service to all impacted areas.

WASA is assuring customers that measures are in place to ensure the sustainability of supplies until the rains arrive sufficiently to recharge the rivers and other water sources. Customers are being encouraged to manage their water use wisely during this particular period.

For further information, or to request a truck-borne delivery, customers can contact WASA’s Customer Call Centre toll free at 800-4420/26.