WHILE the fears that drought-stricken South Africa could run out of potable water in April may seem surreal, an official from the Barbados Water Authority says that dire situation is a reality which faced Barbados not too long ago.
In fact Wayne Richards, Director of Projects at the Barbados Water Authority (BWA), says that during the 2014-2016 period, the drought was so severe that a number of the wells became stressed and the BWA may be forced to rest some of the wells so that they can be replenished. “We are in a race against time,” he warned.
Richards was speaking during a Town Hall meeting on Monday night at the St. Stephen’s Church to discuss the expansion of the Spring Garden Desalination Plant, where he and other officials stressed the fact that Barbados is a water-scarce country and continues to experience low rainfall events.
“We are trying to help Barbados and learn from the impact that was suddenly brought upon us. We had dips and we saw when we started to lose the battle. We lost the battle on the west coast, heading up to the north of the island, straight to the centre of the island. These are the areas that we target.”
The desalination expansion project, which is awaiting Town Planning approval, will augment the water coming from the reverse osmosis plant. According to officials, the water will not only service the surrounding areas, but will be pumped up the west coast and can be routed further north and to the centre of the island, improving water services for the parishes that were hard-hit during the last drought.
He explained that the lack of rainfall replenishment would have caused a change in the water quality because the wells were so stressed. Richards noted that some persons complained of high salinity in the water, while others complained of rust-coloured water, a direct result of the low levels and water passing along the cast iron pipes respectively.
While noting the importance of getting the expanded desalinated plant up and running to ensure a repeat of low water levels does not occur, Richards also highlighted comments made by Minister of Agriculture and Water Resources, Dr. David Estwick, who outlined plans for two desalination plants to be set up to the north and the south of the island. Richards says that one of the areas which must be contemplated when looking at these plants is addressing their energy needs and the scope for the introduction of renewable energy technology as a main power source. (JH)