Government Information Service

by Emmanuel H. Joseph
Government Information Service

Two contracts for the commencement of work on a new water system for Warner have been signed on Thursday, 26th November, 2009 at the board room of the Dominica Water and Sewage Company (DOWASCO).

According to General Manager of DOWASCO, Bernard Etinoffe, the three point six million East Caribbean dollars (XCD$3 600 000.00) project is one of necessity as the villagers have been complaining about the conditions of the water supply. The supply, he said, has been in operation for over twenty years and led to corrosion and led to the degradation in output.

“Warner has been experiencing severe water difficulty for several years as a result of village expansion and an aged infrastructure which has outlived its useful life. The existing water supply system at Warner was constructed by the Central Water Authority in 1972, that is, well over thirty-seven (37) years ago. The intake is fed by a spring located on the Mount Joy River at an elevation of eleven thousand, one hundred and sixty feet (1160 ft) above sea level.

That intake feeds a five thousand (5000) imperial gallon storage tank from which the water is distributed to the low lying areas of Warner by gravity flow. Due to the age of the system, the pipelines have become corroded giving rise to breakage and reduced water flow while the intake storage tank distribution and supply lines are all inadequate to meet the needs of the expanding community which continues to grow both in terms of the number of houses being constructed and the elevation at which this expansion takes place.

This, therefore, gave rise to several complaints from the residents and the Parliamentary Representative as well. In an effort to address this untenable situation, DOWASCO set about searching for new and adequate sources of water from which to serve the community.”

The DOWASCO General Manager describes the new system as one that will supply potable water to the existing population of Warner as well as to cater for the future needs of the development of the community.

The new system will entail the pumping of water from Jimmit to a forty-five thousand (45 000) gallon storage tank at an elevation of one thousand, three hundred and fifteen feet (1315 ft) to serve the needs of lower Warner and further pumping from that elevation of 1315 ft to a higher elevation of one thousand, five hundred and twenty-five feet (1525 ft) to meet the needs of persons living in the upper reaches of Warner.

The project components include two (2) tanks, one forty-five thousand (45 000) gallons and the other thirty thousand (30 000) capacity, two (2) pumping stations and erections of four (4) pumps. It also includes the installation of ten thousand, nine hundred and seventy seven (10 977) feet of ductile iron main supply pipelines, seven hundred (700) feet of four (4) inch ductile iron pumping mains, four thousand, four hundred and sixty (4,460) feet of six (6) inch PVC distribution mains, three thousand, four hundred (3,400) feet of three (3) inch high density polyethylene distribution mains, one thousand, eight hundred and twenty (1,820) feet of high density polyethylene pumping lines and one thousand, two hundred and  twenty (1,220) feet of two (2) inch high density polyethylene distribution lines, much of which will be buried for protection and security.

The project has been awarded to two (2) contractors as the project itself will be divided into two (2) lots; the firm of RRJS Incorporated will be awarded the contract for lot one which entails the installation of the supply and distribution lines. The contract for the construction of the storage tanks, pump house and sub tanks was awarded to CIRIS Limited. The project is expected to be completed in approximately six (6) months.

The Hon. Parliamentary Representative for the area, Rayburn Blackmore said that the project signing ceremony testifies to the Government’s consistency in moving Dominica forward.

“What is happening in Dominica is consistency. This project signing ceremony is consistent with Government’s commitment to take Dominica to the next level because what we are doing is taking the water supply to the highest level.”

In the meantime, Hon. Minister for Public Utilities, Energy and Ports, Charles Savarin, disclosed that the Warner Water Supply project is a top priority for his Ministry. However, the plan is to move Warner from an independent source to that of joining water area number one.

He further stated that the development of the Warner Water Supply project is the first step in the National Water Supply Enhancement Programme which will cost Government approximately eight (8) million dollars.

“This enhancement plan is a top priority for the Government and the Ministry of Public Utilities, Energy and Ports and of course for DOWASCO. It is expected to deliver acceptable results in terms of water service, quality and consumer satisfaction. The twelve (12) month programme comprises expansion, rehabilitation, remedial and upgrading works and will address key limiting issues confronting consumers in water area number one as well. The signing of the contract here today signifies the start of that plan. Other areas forming part of that plan to be addressed includes Campbell, Delices, Bense, Belles, Penrice and Vielle Case which experiences problems with their water supply particularly in an area known as ‘Coton’.”

Water area number one includes communities from St. Joseph to Loubiere including the city of Roseau.