A $350,000 contract for the extension of water mains from one small community to another in San Salvador was signed on Friday between the government and local construction company.
Proprietor of Big N' Better, Ian Greene was awarded the contract to install some 12,000 ft of six inch PVC pipe to connect the reverse osmosis water in North Victoria Hill to the system that serves United Estates, to supply potable drinking water. Minister of Works and Utilities Bradley Roberts has announced that the PVC pipes will arrive in San Salvador before the end of this month. The project's completion date has been set for mid-August this year.
"Ladies and gentlemen of United Estates and others living nearby, relief is on the way. You too will now benefit from the reverse osmosis plant in Cockburn Town, and in due course, it is my intention to extend this system further to provide water in Sugar Loaf and Long Bay," he said.
Minister Roberts promised that the government would work on getting the funds needed for the expansion.
Presently, however, he is cautioning the island residents to guard against water wastage.
Minister Roberts explained that it is not the little leak that wastes water, but the little leak that keeps on leaking that wastes water.
"The fact that the leak is so little means that maybe you ignore it," he said.
Minister Roberts pointed out that many toilets in people's homes have a constant leak, somewhere around 22 gallons per day. This, he said translates into about 8,000 gallons per year of wasted water.
The Public Works minister said people think that water is the simplest thing around.
"Pure water is colourless, odourless, and tasteless. But it's not at all simple and plain, it is vital for all life on earth," said Minister Roberts.
By: KEVA LIGHTBOURNE, The Nassau Guardian
