The Water and Sewerage Authority (the Authority) wishes to advise members of the public of expected ongoing challenges throughout May into June, in relation to water production and distribution to various areas system-wide. This comes in light of the latest predictions from the Trinidad and Tobago Meteorological Service (TTMS) and the Barbados based Caribbean Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology (CIMH), which both indicate that Trinidad and Tobago can expect continued below normal rainfall throughout May. However, according to the CIMH’s Caribbean Drought Bulletin, May 2019|Vol. V|Issue 12, Trinidad and Tobago continues to be under a drought watch, through to July 2019, along with Antigua, Barbados, Guyana, Hispaniola, St Kitts and St Vincent among others.
In view of this forecast, the Authority is prepared to maintain the various elements of its Water Supply Management Plan, designed to sustain available supplies through the dry period, reduce unaccounted for water (UFW) and decrease demand. To this end, the available water supplies in our main impounding reservoirs at Arena, Navet, Hollis and Hillsborough are being closely monitored and managed, while work is ongoing to maximize the availability of ground water sources to compensate in part for reduced flows at surface water sources. The Authority has also been making significant strides in reducing the amount of water lost through leaks on it transmission and distribution pipeline network, with 10,764 leaks repaired from the start of January to the end of April, 2019 with the backlog of leaks being reduced from a high of over 2,800 to approximately 1,350 at present.
In order to properly manage our available water resources through this harsh Dry Season, it is vitally important for members of the public to be equally involved from the perspective of conserving and reducing demand. To this end, the public is encouraged to closely examine their water usage, in order to minimize wastage and use only what is required. It is also important to note that the Water Use Restrictions implemented on January 28th, 2019 remain in force and will continue until further notice.
Furthermore, the Authority remains committed to taking all necessary actions within the law, against persons who continue to disregard these restrictions, as well as those stealing water and engaged in illegal water trucking. Thus far, the Authority’s security personnel have laid charges against 18 persons for varying offences associated with the Water Use Restrictions, theft of water and illegal water trucking.