WSC breaks ground for potable water on Cat Island

CAT ISLAND, BAHAMAS — On Monday, the Water and Sewerage Corporation (WSC) broke ground to bring potable water to Cat Island for the first time.

A statement announcing the groundbreaking read: “Very soon, Cat Island residents will no longer have to harvest rain water or obtain this valuable commodity from private wells, standpipes or water tanks in well fields.”

During a ceremony on the grounds of the District Council Office in New Bight, WSC Executive Chairman Adrian Gibson said: “Oh, Cat Island, it’s your time. This is your historic undertaking today.

“The purpose of this project is to provide you with a safe, sustainable, reliable supply of potable water that meets World Health Organization (WHO) water standards by all parameters. It will be delivered directly into your homes on demand, any time that you want.

“You don’t have to worry about drawing water from your well or about rationing water from your tanks.

“We know that wells, stand pipes and all others are subject to changing weather patterns, drought, sea water infiltration, interrupted water supply and poor water quality — especially when it’s a hurricane. We intend to change that.”

Approximately 12 miles of pipe will be installed in the work, which is scheduled to be undertaken in two lots within 12 months at a cost of more than $3 million.

Gibson indicated that although the initial project work will only include a fraction of the island, the WSC “is committed to expanding the system and providing the entire island with water as far as possible and as future budgets would allow”.

He appealed to Island Site Development Bahamas to give local contractors consideration and to also hire as many local residents as possible on this central island.

He assured residents throughout all Family Islands of a safe and reliable water supply. He said the government is keenly aware of the needs of the Family Islands and is currently formulating plans to address them.

To date, major infrastructural projects have been completed on Long Island, Eleuthera, Spanish Wells, Russell Islands, South Andros, San Salvador, Ragged Island, Abaco, Inagua, Crooked Island, New Providence, Moore’s Island, Harbour Island, North Andros and now Cat Island.