The Water and Sewerage Company Inc. (WASCO) has announced that the current dry spell with reduced rainfall and increased evaporation has significantly impacted its systems.
“Most of our systems are beginning to dry up,” Chief Executive Officer Zilta George-Leslie told a news conference Wednesday.
George-Leslie disclosed that rapid water evaporation was affecting the company’s systems, coupled with low river flows.
By way of example, she explained that the John Compton Dam level was down to 325 feet as of Wednesday morning when usually the level would be 333 feet.
The John Compton Dam system serves Cap Estate to Millet and Cul de Sac areas.
‘Drastic reductions’ have also impacted WASCO’s Southern system from Canaries to Dennery, resulting in decreases ranging from twenty to eighty percent depending on the community.
As a result, WASCO has urged customers throughout Saint Lucia to store and conserve water.
However, the company explained that the biggest challenge is that customers still need to change their water consumption patterns.
WASCO has instituted water rationing and is trucking water to customers in some areas.
In addition, the company has expressed concern over the appearance of old tyres in the Talvern River, creating a dam in the river bed.
WASCO suspects it was the work of a farmer, negatively impacted by the dry spell.
“A lot of farmers do not use potable water. They use water from the rivers, so we are crying out to the farmers as well not to carry out those sort of practices because that in itself is affecting our levels and our flows,” CEO Zilta George-Leslie told reporters.
Regarding possible water source contamination, the company explained that treatment plants would filter out most contaminants.
In addition, treatment plants have ponds with fish.
WASCO monitors the fish daily, and should there be any fish kills, it alerts officials to intervene with crisis management.
Yes justify the big bill you will be sending for April. Smh, you will swear is not a water company that’s there. Farmers can’t depend on Y’all for water supply for their farms, if they do, all their crops dying!! Nonsense!! But one thing I know Stephenson Kings comment went to Y’all head otherwise the big loan won’t be able to be paid for the useless building Y’all built in Vieux-Fort.
Please utilize full force Wasco to punish cabot for using our drinking and life water for there 350 acres of self created lawn for an effin game……..And what about jazz water waste consumption waste!,,,?…..?…..?….. we had no water 2 months in cap estate dec Jan Feb…an now we are reading this smfh woiiiiiiiiiii SLP and Independants pay attention and focus on desitling our only small Dam feeding this entire island!! …punish resorts, hotels, inns, villas, condos, cabanas bc all of their….tourists who take 45 minutes showers don’t care!…There should be financial stipends on ALL REfilling of any size pool and as in cabot 3 giant ponds being filled with human consumption water for grass!,,,, I Thank You….
This lady needs to be fired
WASCO’s competence is drying up.
Ask Mr. Dembow for advise.
Hello. We haven’t had water for weeks… Where we supposed to get the water to store. Weeeeeekssss no water. N y’all want to send one little truck to help all these ppl. N when u ask them if they coming back they tell u call wasco or buy a truck of water?? Real bs!!! Wasco plateau ppl haven’t had waterrr in weeks!!!!!!!! Senddddd the waterr
WASCO needs to start dwesalinating sea water, and we’ll never run out!
I truly feel the plight of this lady, having inherited years of mismanagement and incompetencies at wasco. Years of neglect of critical maintenence on water systems….putting plasters on recurring sores….political interference in managment and hiring and firing (still happening today). Now in 2024 all the problems that have marinated over the years like fine wine are exploding!!! Be strong lady…but then again, you had a say over the many many many that you were with the company # politics
At a time when the water situation due to natural causes or mismanagement or limited financial and other resources, is so crucial. Why do we put a square peg in a round hole? Ms George-Leslie is a nice lady and may be suited for Marketing and Communications and Customer Service. But she is a misfit for this role. Whats her background or expertise, or track record or claim to fame in any other organisation?
Awah, what running efficiently in Fair Helen? Farmers stranded because they have fruit rotting on their hands and no boxes. Etc, etc.
Road network causing endless stress and all that is happening in that Ministry of infrastructure is minor pot holes repairs with poor workmanship. The patches are not levelled out and the ride is just as bumpy as when they had holes. But what really going on in St Lucia?
From not on I will do like Kenny Dee and Tony, and keep quiet. Sit back and let dem fellas trip over themselves. Garcon you mean is that kind of representation I take a line, endless hot sun, and voted for in January 2021? En-vay-we-tay. I dunnnn
I don’t understand for and island that have hundreds of rivers they only have one water source is crazy
WASCO is a victim of its own bs over the years. Previous managements have taken St. Lucians for uncomfortable rides. I remember working from home one day with the television playing in the background. I overheard that the company has for years been experiencing a mind-boggling amount of water loss. I caught myself jerking my head backwards. The speaker defined water loss as water being sent out, but not received by targets due to broken pipes, theft etc. Just maybe, if that water loss was managed diligently the problem would not be so severe. Too many times I have seen WASCO pipes on main roads about 3 inches below ground. Who manages those clowns🤡 placements? I have learned that public mismanagement is great thing for job security. There will always be people with raised voices demanding service… volume.
Lucians you all will smell weeee jus now
Have they though of drilling the ground for water
Ras clayton ,Cabot dug everywhere it’s all saltwater……and @concerned exactly….. why doesn’t someone from blue waters ect invest in desalinization plant directly from the new marina mall being built in Rodney bay!and have it feed off the sea there…… This article title is a sure indication to foreigners there is NO Water to Build or invest in more homes, resorts or any BS in St. Lucia!….
Since 2011, we have been saying ” Food and Water Security!”. There is no food security without water security. We have been saying that the island needs to increase its water storage capacity for over a decade. The geographic landscape of the island provides for the construction of micro dams in the many valleys. There should be a law that forces all hotels with beach access to install desal plants. WASCO itself should invest in a large desal plant as well. Everyone that is able to, should get actively involved in water harvesting. All farmers should be using drip irrigation instead of sprinklers. And all of us need to start conserving water at all costs. This crisis is just beginning. Brace yourselves.
This is regarding the comment toward the farmers. Stating that farmers are using the river waters inappropriately. In terms of agriculture for plants to grow healthy the farmers need natural water for the benefit of the plant. That same plant/food is then being put back into the st.lucia food systems to provide local food for St.Lucia.
Why don’t we instead look the the fact that during the construction of the highway and road in the cul de sac area. Water is being taken from the river under the bridge to wet the roads. Why don’t we try to efficiently finish the roads in a timely manner instead of using precious river water to wet roads, and leave the farmers out of this shortage. Please throw your stones in the right direction.
There has been a fully funded Solar Desalination Plan for the last 12 years. However, the initiators did not belong to a certain group of people. As a result, the entire island must suffer in order to punish the group. Lucians will now have to collect perspiration and drink it.