‘Will we ever have reliable water?’
That’s the question some residents of Monier and Babonneau are asking after going several weeks, and sometimes even months, without a reliable water supply.
Canice John, who houses five tenants at a property in Ma Kanna Heights, Monier, says his community has not had a steady water supply since May. The landlord moves back and forth between Canada and his homeland each year.
“The tenants always call WASCO (Water and Sewerage Company) to ask for water. They just want water on a regular basis, or at least once per week so that all tanks can be filled,” John said, adding that water problems have been going on for years but seem to have got worse lately.
He says the issue also affects other neighbouring communities like Monier Terraces, and while water trucks are sent into the area, responses from WASCO can be sparse.
“Now, every week you have to call and beg, and when they bring the truck, most of the time it’s only a few tanks they can fill. Many of the residents go and complain to the office; nothing seems to be working.”
This reporter also spoke with John’s tenants and other people in Monier, who said they last had a continuous water supply around the time of the Saint Lucia Jazz & Arts Festival. Some residents said that certain households get water more often than others, and they want WASCO to explain why.
In Babonneau, residents have also been vocal about their water problems, particularly on social media.
One resident from Babonneau Central told St. Lucia Times that he receives water inconsistently, maybe once a week or every two weeks. “When it does arrive, it lasts about a few hours, or for one day at the most,” he said.
Water shortages have been an ongoing issue in several communities across Saint Lucia. Sometimes this is because of worn pipes and infrastructure and less rain. WASCO has previously announced a number of pipeline repair projects, including upgrades to the Theobalds Water Supply Rehabilitation Project, the John Compton Dam Raw Water Pipeline Project, the Patience Water Supply Redevelopment Project and the Northern Pipeline Project.
During a press conference on July 29, the water company provided updates on these projects.
However, residents in Monier and Babonneau say they are calling for more direct contact with WASCO regarding the problems affecting their communities.
John, who also spoke with St. Lucia Times about Monier’s water issues earlier this year, said, “If we have a problem with the water line in Monier, we want it investigated and for solutions to the problem to be presented.”
St. Lucia Times reached out to WASCO for a response and to find out what might be causing the disruptions. The company had not replied by the time of publication.
