NASSAU, BAHAMAS —Some $20 million is earmarked for projects to improve Eleuthera’s water supply, according to General Manager of the Water and Sewerage Corporation Robert Deal, who said works are scheduled to begin by the end of the month.
Deal said the corporation is aware of ongoing water issues and has worked to reduce the number of interferences over the Christmas season.
“We will continue to work very closely to minimize further disruptions in 2023 as much as is possible while these improvement works, which will total cost approximately $20 million overall proceed,” Deal said.
Water issues in Eleuthera intensified last December when the Arrow plant in Central Eleuthera, which services the corporation’s largest customer base on the island, malfunctioned and sent salt water through pipes into homes and businesses.
The corporation decided to purchase two 500-thousand-gallon bladder tanks as a short-term solution to ongoing water issues for the North (Bogue) and Central Eleuthera (Naval Base) water plant facilities.
Deal said: “These bladder tanks, purchased at a total cost of $270,000 are presently on-site and a there installation will commence during late January 2023; to facilitate these bladder tanks, land clearing has been substantially completed, security fencing is in progress and the required piping works will commence shortly. The site clearance, installation, piping, and security fencing works for both sites will total approximately $500,000.”
Shipping and the availability of materials have been a challenge, according to the Water and Sewerage Corporation General Manager, who stated that they are working with their various contractors to minimize delays as much as possible, as they prepare to bring in two larger glass-coated steel tanks for long term-usage.
“Due to major supply side challenges associated with steel in the United States, these tanks are presently being manufactured in Europe and we expect delivery to Eleuthera by early in the second quarter of 2023.
“Once the tanks are in the site, we expect them to be installed and commissioned within four months,” Deal continued.
“The contract price for these two tanks is $2,756,000 and another $600,000 of site clearance, piping, and fencing works will be included.”
The new steel tanks that will be installed will replace older infrastructure that has leaks that limit the storage capacity.
Deal explained that both, Spanish Wells and Harbour Island are also to receive a new water system.
“The Corporation is presently obtaining the final approximately to install two new 250,000 imperial gallon glass coated steel tanks at our Harbour Island facility to replace an existing 250,000 imperial gallon tank that is quite old and has frequent leaks. The cost of these works is approximately $1,900,000.
“Also, a contract will be issued shortly for repairs to our existing 365,000 imperial gallon Spanish Wells tank. These works will cost approximately $240,000,” Deal said.
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