BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, Wednesday February 14, 2018 – It will cost Government BDS$12.9 million (US$6.45 million) to address the problems that have seen sewage seeping onto the streets of the island’s south coast.

And Minister with responsibility for Water Resource Management, Dr David Estwick, says Cabinet has approached the Latin American Development Bank (CAF), the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) for assistance to implement three solutions identified, following consultation with regional and international experts.

“[These are] the injection wells and the two bypass systems and the injection well with pre-treatment. We think these are the best options that we have available. We have moved to Cabinet requesting certain funding and we have had some assurances of funding from the CAF. We’re hoping to be able to mobilize those funds very shortly so we can start effecting the work I just outlined,” he said, adding that geotechnical tests were being conducted ahead of drilling the wells.

According to the Minister, the CAF had approved “a US$4 million advance”, while the IDB was in discussion with the Barbados Water Authority (BWA) to finalize its funding arrangement.

The Minister explained that based on the recent tests and CCTV imaging carried out on the network by the BWA and a team of consultants, there were three major challenges affecting the system.

“One, there are obstructions on the carrier line or the gravity fed line – this is the line bringing sewage from all of the connections into the plant. [There are] breaks in that line, as well as the infiltration [of both fresh and sea water] into that line. Two, rupture of the force main line which carries sewage from the effluent pumps to the outfall; and three, the impact of that is recirculation of sewage that should be pumped out to the ocean coming back into the carrier line and backing up behind the blocked areas, therefore flowing through the manholes or circulating back to the plant,” he explained.

Dr Estwick said the sewage overflows were due to the rupturing of the 10-inch pump by foreign objects, such as towels and meat packaging. He added that authorities had ordered a new pump, which had to be custom-built and was expected to be in the island next week. A six-inch pump, which also failed, is also being repaired.

He also empathized with affected residents and businesses, and gave the assurance that the BWA was working assiduously to rectify the problem, although he could not give a timeline as to when the matter would be completely resolved.

“Right now, I’m a little unsure of the time frames because as you are digging wells you don’t know what you may find, so I think we could be looking at three or six months for a sort of complete solution. But that doesn’t help persons who are now suffering from the problems. [Relief] will come when the second pump arrives in Barbados and we have the other 10-inch pump repaired,” Dr Estwick assured.

Meantime, he has sought to assure Barbadians that they need not worry about the island’s drinking water being contaminated as a result of the compromised sewer lines.

“Our potable water system and our sewage system are distinct and separate; therefore, the breaches that have occurred within the distribution system of the sewage treatment plant do not, in any way, affect our potable water system,” he insisted, adding that tests have not shown any irregularities.

Concern has also been raised about sewage infiltrating the water through the proposed injection wells, which are being dug to alleviate the flow of sewage and facilitate remedial work. However, the Minister reassured that the process is safe.

“Deep injections wells go significantly below the level of the aquifers and are deep enough to ensure that there is enough material, rocks and so on, between the aquifers and where you would discharge [the sewage]. Therefore, the likelihood of the [sewage] coming back up and causing any issues is very low,” he stated.

Reiterating that this is a short-term measure, Dr Estwick said they may opt to keep these wells as “emergency back-up” so they could be used in the future should a similar situation arise.