Kalain Hosein
kalain.hosein@guardian.co.tt
The Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA) has released T&T's 2023 Dry Season water restriction schedules. However, some communities have been spared reduced pipe-borne water supply.
WASA has placed communities across Tobago, as well as northeastern, southeastern, southwestern, and central Trinidad, under some level of reduced water supply, but no water restriction schedules have been issued for northwestern Trinidad.
The schedules, which were posted to WASA's website and Facebook pages, state that several areas will receive pipe-borne water supply daily, as well as every three, four, five, and six days.
There are even further reductions for communities on the extremities of the water distribution network, where areas like Manzanilla and Mayo will receive water once a week. However, populous communities like Princes Town, home to more than 28,000, and Freeport, home to nearly 12,000, as well as those in elevated areas like upper Lopinot and upper D'Abadie, will receive water in the pipes once a week.
Heading further south and east, many areas across Trinidad could see water in their taps once every nine days, like Mafeking, Barrakpore, Clark Road, Rock Road, and Morne Diablo, to name a few. However, St. Mary's and Moruga will be receiving water once every ten days.
These restrictions come one week after their announcement by WASA Chairman Ravindra Nanga. At the press conference, the T& Meteorological Service explained that at Piarco, Trinidad received 68 per cent of rainfall compared to the average for January, 55.6 per cent for February, and only 16.7 per cent of average rainfall for March. Tobago fared slightly better but these rainfall deficits across both islands were reflected in reservoir levels, with Hollis and Navet below their long-term averages.
Nanga explained that as a result of the persistent dryness and continued forecast dryness according to the Meteorological Service, these schedules had to be adjusted.
He stated at the media conference one week ago: "Because of how we have been managing the situation, managing the water resources, managing the resources, we have been able to fare quite well up until now, and we continue to fare well, but we consider it prudent in light of what was just indicated to bring to the public attention and closely monitor our resources."
At the same conference, he said WASA will be issuing restrictions on hoses, watering lawns, washing vehicles, etc. Guardian Media has reached out to WASA asking if these restrictions are in effect, but there has yet to be a response as of press time.
Though these water schedules have been issued, many areas across Trinidad have already been water scarce for some time, with some communities across the island not receiving pipe-borne water in days, weeks, and in some cases, over a month.
With the known WASA shortage, the Authority has taken to its social media platforms to remind the public that they can request free truck-borne water supply via the WASA Services App, the customer portal on the WASA website, WhatsApp via 1-868-709-7793, and toll-free at 800-4H20 (800-4420/4426). However, there are known delays in this system. Guardian Media has also contacted the Authority to inquire about the cause of the delays and the current number of outstanding requests, but there has yet to be a response as of press time.