The Water and Sewerage Company Inc. (WASCO) has disclosed that recent heavy rainfall has caused lower-than-normal water pressure for many areas across Saint Lucia.
According to a company statement, reduced water production at its treatment plants directly results from high turbidity and clogged intakes.
“This situation arises from the unique nature of our water supply system, which relies on natural sources that are vulnerable to environmental impacts during severe weather,” the statement said.
As a preventative measure, WASCO explained that it must place its systems offline and suspend its operations temporarily to ensure thorough cleaning of clogged intakes.
The water utility noted that typically, these measures lead to decreased pressure levels and disruptions in supply, which all consumers are currently experiencing, particularly those situated at higher elevations or the furthest points of the distribution networks.
WASCO revealed that aging infrastructure exacerbates the situation, limiting the company’s ability to respond quickly to changing conditions.
In addition, WASCO called attention to the low water rates charged to consumers, noting it constrained investment in necessary upgrades and improvements.
The company has strongly encouraged all consumers to consider investing in additional water storage solutions such as rainwater harvesting.
It observed that the effects of prolonged droughts in recent years have demonstrated the vulnerability and severe depletion of our natural water sources when rain is scarce.
“By having additional storage, consumers can better prepare for potential shortages and help reduce the strain on the system during the dry season and periods of heavy rainfall,” WASCO stated.
so wasco have issue when it rains when it is sunny awa wii papo. so when will we get a break
Is wasco serious?
Is Wasco serious?
I’m 46 years old. The intakes clogged excuse has been a crutch for Wasco from Wasa days. It’s almost 50 years and they still haven’t found a solution to this
It’s almost histerical at this point. Smh!!!
With the clogged intake and climate change concerns, what is Wasco doing to desilt so we have more capacity to store water while it’s raining? That would also help with clogging because not so much dirt and sand at the intake there.
It is laughable but plain idiotic statement to read from an a national company with a monopoly. It simple miss management of scarce resource, lack of vision, planning and execution of a strategy to be an efficient customer oriented company.
The Millet Dam ( John Compton Dam) is our largest reservoir which had been compromised since 2010. fourteen years on it has not been back to its full potential for various reasons. Why since this incident neither to Government nor Wasco has seen it fit to promote and obligatory 3000 gallons water storage tanks at every single residence with an additional 3000 gallons rain water harvesting. This need to be a legal obligation to every new built family home with Vat exemption on water tanks as an incentive.
Why simple solutions are not forth coming from our so call leaders?
Wasco also needs a significant overhaul of it management structure with new blood with a business oriented focus to be the best utility water company in the region. There are many ways in which WASCO can be a very profitable company and distributing water nationally at an affordable rate without always demanding price hike as it current does and there is no improvement.
Same old story always lamenting and repeating it again and again.