Trinidad Water Authority denies deliberate inequality in water distribution

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) — The Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA) has denied allegations that it is engaged in the “deliberate inequity” in the distribution of water across the country as the drought situation here becomes even more severe.

In a statement, WASA said Trinidad and Tobago is “experiencing one of the harshest dry seasons in recent years, which is severely impacting water production at all of its major surface treatment plants.

“With the current shortfall of approximately 30 million gallons per day (mgd), areas at the extremities of the distribution system are being most impacted, which includes parts of south, as well as central and north Trinidad to a lesser extent,” WASA added.

Earlier last week, the Ministry of Public Utilities urged consumers not to pay for any supply of water.

In a statement, the ministry said that it had taken note of the complaints regarding demands being made on the public to buy water during the dry season.

“The ministry and WASA are urging members of the public to desist from paying for any supply of water. The truck-borne supply of water is provided as a means of bringing relief to persons who may be affected by a drop in their pipe-borne supply, and is a free service provided by the authority.”

WASA also emphasised that it does not sell water to private truck owners, adding “therefore, if consumers purchase water from these sources, WASA cannot verify the source nor the quality of such water.

WASA said that the current drought situation is not confined to Trinidad and Tobago alone since “several of our neighbouring Caribbean territories are also experiencing similar effects on their water delivery capabilities.

“Some of these territories include Barbados, Antigua, Grenada and Jamaica, where water schedules and various other water restrictions have been imposed.”

WASA said that it is aiming to ensure the availability of water through this dry season “as well as equitable distribution of available water resources to customers across Trinidad and Tobago”.