Disconnecting from the city's water supply might have its bright spots – consumers save hundreds of dollars each year and reportedly enjoy a greater water pressure with private wells.
But there are also a few drawbacks attached, according to officials at the Water & Sewerage Corporation.
Among those drawbacks: the possibility of those wells becoming polluted, as is reportedly the case with many of them in the capital.
A recent one month pilot study of private wells in the Eastern area revealed that most were contaminated, according to the corporation's chairman Abraham Butler.
"Because New Providence is densely populated, there isn't a central sewer system in place," Mr. Butler said. "With so many individual sewers around then, this seeps into the well supply, contaminating the water."
Officials recently revealed that the corporation has been losing millions of dollars in recent years as more and more Bahamians abandon the public water supply for private wells,
Mr. Bulter said individual letters and sample results were forwarded to the respective well owners with explanations.
Private wells and hotels produce around 564 million gallons of water annually, he said.
According to Mr. Butler, there are over 30,000 private wells in the country, a figure representing an annual revenue loss to the corporation of some $4 million. Meanwhile, hotels using reverse osmosis distillation plants contribute to a further loss of $4.5 million.
It is a situation that is forcing the corporation to put in place measures win back much of its customers if it hopes to improve its future financial position.
"As the corporation moves forward, we are hoping that those persons with contaminated wells would either reconnect to the city supply or request periodic treatment from us," Mr. Butler said. "It's a win-win situation. And the more customers reconnect, the more the corporation's cash flow will be positively impacted."
In 2001, the corporation's revenue stood at $27 million from New Providence business alone, a figure insufficient to cover its operating costs of $28.5 million.
It was during this time that the corporation suffered a total loss of almost $8 million.
Over the past five years, the government subsidized the corporation to the tune of $66 million and $100 million over a 10-year period.
"The government is doing its part, but still it's a great challenge to provide potable water to the entire Bahamas, in light of the fact that the Family Islands are sparsely populated, and you do not necessarily get a good return on investments," Mr. Butler said.The cost of shipping water from Andros is also burdensome, according to Mr. Butler.
Over $4,000 is spent daily on two tankers – the Titus and the Dolphin. This does not include the cost of fuel.
Water & Sewerage officials are exploring the possibility of piping water from Andros to New Providence, Mr. Butler revealed.
Other initiatives have also been undertaken to improve the corporation, he said. Last year, the corporation launched a performance management system, integrating team building, service excellence and establishing goals and service standards.
Mr. Butler said officials are working to eliminate waste and reworking customer requirements and expectations for maximum value. "At the end of the day, we will be measuring net contribution because it's unfair for all employees to be granted the same increase across the board every three years" he said.
"We are not going to use the word accountability and transparency loosely, as we have customarily done. Yes, transforming a corporation is indeed a challenge, but to do this, we must first change our work habits."
By Macushla Pinder, The Bahama Journal
