The Residents of Exuma have been given access to a new sustainable source of high quality drinking water, as the largest reverse osmosis (RO) plant in the Bahamas has now opened.
The new RO facility, located in George Town, Exuma, produces an average of 165,000 gallons of desalinated water per day, with the capacity of 400,000 gallons, and will provide the residents of the area and nearby settlements with high quality drinking water, it was announced.
Speaking at the official opening on Monday in George Town, Minister of Works with responsibility for the Water and Sewerage Corporation (W&SC) Bradley Roberts said that the new plant is only one of many planned facilities which will provide all residents in the Family Islands with an adequate supply of potable water.
Supply
Addressing the residents of George Town, Prime Minister Perry Christie and other senior government officials at the community centre, Mr Roberts said that a steady supply of water is especially important for small island environments where there are only a few or not sufficient sources of drinkable water.
ﾓWells in many parts of Exuma, particular in the settlements, are at risk of becoming saline and polluted. Most of this water is not fit for potable purposes,ﾒ he said.
Mr Roberts said that following an evaluation of the area, which was carried out in 2001, the advantages of a saltwater reverse osmosis plant located close to George Town became apparent.
He reiterated that the former plan to install two major well fields on the island was abandoned, ﾓas the best water bearing land was found either on private property or in hilly terrain.ﾒ
Mr Roberts said that the cost of acquiring the land and installing well fields that could produce an adequate supply of water would have cost $6 million.
The works minister said that the contract to construct an RO plant was awarded to Aqua Design (Bahamas), the leading local company in the field for the installation of sea water reverse osmosis and water waste treatment, to provide a minimum of 140,000 gallons per day of desalinated water.
Purification
Aqua Designﾴs American partner company Ionics, internationally recognised pioneers in the membrane based water purification and water quality monitoring business, provided the capital and human resources.
Speaking at the opening ceremony Eric Tynes, Ionics Aqua Design representative, said that although Ionics funded the facility, local firms constructed the plant and Bahamians will manage it.
Regarding the other settlements in Exuma, Mr Roberts said that the W&SC has plans to bring potable water to the settlements of Rolleville, Curtis, Stuart Manor, Barreterre and eventually to Little Exuma.
ﾓI wish to assure the good people of Exuma that the government is looking for funding to do this and our efforts are now aimed at seeking European Union funds for this and similar expansions in the Family Islands,ﾒ he said.
Replace
The works minister announced that agreements have been concluded to implement similar reverse osmosis schemes in Staniel Cay, Ragged Island and San Salvador and to replace the existing plant in Mooreﾴs Island.
ﾓRight now in the Family Islands we have operational plants in Bimini, Inagua, South Eleuthera, Long Island, Grand Cay, Black Point, Farmerﾴs Cay and Mooreﾴs Island,ﾒ he added.
Mr Roberts said that Ragged Island is scheduled to have its RO plant operational before Christmas and San Salvador in February of next year.
The minister, however, cautioned the residents of Exuma that this high quality water is more expensive to produce than the use of natural resources.
He reiterated that the water will cost the W&SC more than it costs the consumers, ﾓand therefore the difference has to be subsidised by the government or the tax payers.ﾒ
ﾓThe tax payers must insist that you, the residents, and your visitors pay your water bills on time because we will not subsidise the total cost of water,ﾒ he said.
Mr Roberts said that people who do not pay for the water they use will be cut off.
ﾓThis will be the same deal that we have made in the other islands,ﾒ he noted.
Rates
The works minister that the in the near future all Family Islands benefiting from desalinated water will be paying the same water rates.
For people without income, Mr Roberts assured them that they will always have access to water, ﾓthough it may have to be by means of standpipes.ﾒ
Dr Richard Cant, Acting General Manager of W&SC Family Island Operations called the opening of the George Town RO facility a ﾓvery significant eventﾒ and said that this is recognition that Exuma is moving forward.
Prime Minister Christie further urged the residents of Exuma to take advantage of the opportunities offered to them by the rapidly growing local economy.
He also said that his administration had hired the international planning firm EDAW to come into Exuma and prepare the island for its promising future.
Karin Herig, The Tribune
