Last Sunday, Minister of Public Utilities Marvin Gonzales castigated the residents of Williamsville for protesting about a lack of water.
On Wednesday, Mr Gonzales gave an update of our current water situation.
The Aripo, Caura and Tyrico water treatment plants currently operate at between 12 and 16% capacity.
Water treatment plants at North Oropouche are at 25%; Maraval – 26% and Quare – 28%.
Caroni, Hollis, Lluengo Naranjo and Blanchisseuse water treatment plants are currently between 33 and 37% capacity.
Acono, Las Cuevas and St Ann’s are just over 40% capacity.
Despite this, Mr Gonzales said that “we are approaching the crisis point”.
Unbelievable and so typical of a politician. When will we reach that crisis point, Mr Gonzales? Is the Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA) waiting for the plants to reach 0% capacity?
Proactive management by yourself, the board and management of WASA would have seen a proper contingency plan being executed by now.
As a matter of fact, things should have been put in place from the time the water supply hit between 60 and 65%.
Unfortunately, proactive management is a thoroughly alien concept in Trinidad and Tobago.
We were warned since 2023, that this year would be severe from a rainfall perspective.
He also said that “rationing was not currently under consideration”.
What do you call the current situation where people are not getting water for weeks in their taps? If it is not rationing, what is it?
WASA’s incompetence? Massive loss of water through leaks? Pure wickedness?
Mr Gonzales and his compatriot, the Finance Minister, are cut from the same cloth.
The Finance Minister prays for oil and gas prices to rise without, seemingly, having any plan to manage in the opposite direction.
The Public Utilities Minister prays for rainfall but has no plan to deal with a continued lack thereof.
Praying is very good but we all have a part to play while we await a response.
It will take a substantial amount of rain to refill our reservoirs and water treatment plants. That is a sobering thought.
WASA’s truck-borne distribution system is massively inefficient.
Last week Saturday, I put in a request for some water. I was given a number and told it would take between three and five days.
One week later, I am still waiting.
Linus F Didier
Mt Hope
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