HOUSE OF LABOUR: Despite some degree of upgrading of our sewer system over the last decade, consumers need to continuously raise this issue with some concern, as any significant neglect of this area can cause catastrophic consequences for the environment.
With the constant building of new subdivisions like Millennium Gardens, Coral lakes, the Sir Lynden and the Sir Clifford Darling Gardens and the Freddy Munnings Manor, consumer needs to keep an oversight of the systems being installed either separately or being tied into the overall system.
Additionally, the methods employed in our black belt areas and other not so recent subdivisions of cutting cesspits in the ground, while allowing outhouses and the drilling of water wells must be regarded as a potential health risk. Not to be forgotten are the sewer discharges from our mail boats, the vessels in our yacht basins and cruise ships that threatens the environment of New Providence by polluting Nassau Harbour and the adjourning beaches. Furthermore, consumers in our Family Island with the new development of gated communities and the building of large hotel complexes, should always raise the issue of proper sewer disposal for each project.
To get an overview of our sewer system it must be looked at historically. To get a total picture of the gravity of the situation an in-depth look at the countries total sewer system was researched, assisted with the World Bank data. This research that raised many eyebrows is presented here to consumerd for their perusal. The facts are that the principal sanitary sewerage system was built in 1928 to serve the portion of Nassau north of Nassau Ridge which includes the main commercial and government centers of the city. The system is composed of approximately three and half miles of 22′ to 12′ trunk lines in Bay and Shirley Streets, laterals in streets running north from the ridge, six pumping stations and a deep injection well at Malcolm’s park for disposal. Some of these have been replaced over the last decade or so. The total population served by the existing system is approximately 10 per cent of the city of Nassau, and the Bay and Shirley Street. The trunk lines in some areas of New Providence are in imminent danger of total collapse. In addition, there are four self contained vacuum sewer systems in operation in fairly high income areas.
There is no unified sanitary sewerage system on New Providence and only a relatively small part of the population is connected to public sewers. Independent systems to serve six local built up areas are operated by the Department of Water and Sewerage. The first of these was built in 1928 to serve Old Nassau Town north of Nassau Ridge. In 1943 and 1944 small systems were built at Oakes Field and Windsor Field (Nassau International Airport) to serve housing for RAF and American Air Force Personnel. During the last few year sanitary sewers were built to serve three Government housing estates at Yellow Elder Gardens Phase I, Big Pond and Yellow Elder Gardens Phase II.
The main concentration point for the old Nassau system is at Malcolm’s Park on the Nassau Waterfront. Timelines 21’to 12′ in diameter in Bay and Shirley Streets run west. From Malcolm’s Park for a distance of one-to-one and half miles to Montague Beach and West for two miles to Clifford Park. Streets flowing north from Nassau Ridge between Mackey and Nassau Streets are mostly skewered and are intercepted by the main Bay and Shirley Street lines. Due to the flat grades and difficult wet excavation, six pumping stations are used to lift and concentrate the sewage at Malcolm’s Park. After coarse screwing the raw sewage is disposed of through a 24′ injection well 540 feet deep.
Except for a few sections of cast iron, the sewers are built of locally made concrete pipe with cent joints. Nether the joints nor the pipes are able to exclude ground water which exists above sewer grade for most of the system. By today’s standards this construction would be considered of very low quality. There have been a number of sewer collapses in downtown Nassau during recent years causing serious disruptions to traffic and hazards to public health. The pumping stations, except for those recently reconstructed, are of very bad condition. An underground station at one of the busiest intersections on Bay Street has recently been stored against total collapse by steel colon inserts.
The Oaks Field sewerage system serves only about a half square exile area. It consists largely of six inch diameter octet pipe and two small pumping stations. Sewage is collected form the old RAF housing and is disused of through salvage edits with waste from a slaughterhouse. The entire system is overloaded and in an advance state of deterioration. It needs total replacement.
The Windsor Field system is a small system built during World War II to serve an air force training base. It now serves the Nassau International Airport. It is a standard gravity system with an Imhoff tank and final effluent disposal in a subsoil percolation field. The system appears to be functioning satisfactorily.
The Yellow Elder Gardens number one are vacuum sewer systems serving small government sponsored housing estates on the south side of Nassau Ridge. The vacuum systems save a considerable amount of water, but require careful operation. Final disposals is by a deep well injection.
Finally, the Yellow Elder gardens number two is a conventional gravity system with package treatment plant and deep well injection disposal. The system is designed to serve approximately 200 houses.
However, this system has developed into a health hazard as residents in some cases are without sewer disposals for days at a time.
In conclusion, then, as our population grows and more of our people converge on New Providence from our Family Island more disposal pressure will be added to our sewer system, thus the need for constant upgrades.
Charles Fawkes is President of the National Consumer Association and organiser for the Commonwealth Group of Unions, Inside Labour columnist for the Bahama Journal, Editor of the Headline News, The ConsumerGuard and The Workers’ Vanguard.
