T&T to sign $1.6b IDB wastewater treatment deal

Minister of Planning and Sustainable Development Dr Bhoe Tewarie will tomorrow sign a US$246.5 million agreement  with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) for Phase 1 of the Wastewater Rehabilitation Programme. Luis Alberto Moreno, president of the IDB will sign on behalf of that agency.

All phases of the agreement have been estimated to surpass US$500 million. The general objective of the investment loan is to contribute to sustained efforts at improving the environmental conditions in the country by decreasing uncontrolled discharge of untreated wastewater.

There are three phases to the programme. Sewerage collection and wastewater services in T&T comprise an estimated 564km of sewers and 243 wastewater treatment plants. This infrastructure connects only 30 per cent of the population to a wastewater collection system and the remainder of the population has on-site sanitation facilities serviced by septic tanks and pit latrines. 

Waste water treatment plants serve industries and a variety of institutions. About 70 are associated with private developments and serve medium to large housing schemes. Many of the plants, particularly those constructed by private developers, are now abandoned and malfunctioning. This has resulted in effluent being discharged into water courses and the environment posing risks to public health and the environment.

The Multi-Phase Wastewater Rehabilitation Programme was developed against this backdrop. There are three phases in the programme and the government has so far finalised negations on Phase I, with subsequent phases to be negotiated with the IDB at a later date.

In addition to the wastewater agreement, the IDB is also collaborating with the Planning Ministry  on the Emerging and Sustainable Cities Initiative involving East Port of Spain Moreno will be taken on a tour of East Port of Spain to the main areas identified for development under the Sustainable Cities Initiative, including the Central Market, East Dry River Linear Park, Fort Picton, the Water Tanks, Desperadoes Pan Yard to meet with members of the community.

He will also experience T&T’s cultural element with a tour of Brian Mcfarlane’s mas camp in Woodbrook.