A worker from the Barbados Water Authority (BWA) treating the open manhole on Hastings Main Road, which has been the scene of sewage outflow and caused issues for motorists on Tuesday and early yesterday morning. The situation was made worse by heavy rains in the area, which made usage of the road very difficult.
THE Waste Water Division of the Barbados Water Authority (BWA) has indicated that it is currently investigating an incident which occurred yesterday morning where the right tyre of a vehicle was stuck in a manhole as it was traversing Hastings Main Road in Christ Church.
In a release to the media yesterday, it was revealed that the BWA officials, accompanied by General Manager Keithroy Halliday, were quickly on the scene to assess the situation. Halliday spoke to the driver, who is reportedly not injured.
Head of the Division, Patricia Inniss, said the manhole may have been displaced by storm water gushing through the sewage system and bolts used to secure it were missing. The manhole is now welded, so that in the event of heavy rainfall it will not move. Ms. Inniss said that other manhole covers along the sewer belt were welded before today.
She further noted that stretch of the Hastings road is a trouble spot and is affected by blocked lines. The situation is compounded by rainwater directly entering the sewer lines, putting pressure on aged equipment at the plant and also leading to overflowing manholes.
Yesterday, the Division started a comprehensive cleaning of the entire sewer main line from the plant up to Hastings and beyond, this includes a carrier line which is about 2.6 kilometres. This cleaning is being done in the midst of more predicted, heavy rainfall. Weather permitting, it is expected to last for several days.
The BWA has apologised for the inconvenience and stated that it would continue to monitor the situation and maintain efforts to correct it.