The Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA) has promised improved water supply to residents in Penal and Siparia within six months, following a weekend tour of affected areas by its Acting Chief Executive Officer, Jeevan Joseph.
According to a WASA release, Joseph, along with senior members of the Authority’s evolution team and Board Commissioner Tawari Tota-Maharaj, visited several underserved communities on Saturday 28th June 2025. These included De Gannes Village, Syne Village, Siparia proper, Penal Quinam Road, Sunrees Road, Bunsee Trace along Clarke Road, and Penal Rock Road.
The release said residents voiced long-standing frustrations with the unreliable pipe-borne supply, with some areas receiving water only once every 21 days. WASA also held discussions with Gowtam Maharaj, Chairman of the Penal/Debe Regional Corporation.
In response, Joseph outlined a two-phase plan to restore consistent access. The short-term goal, over three to six months, is to increase supply from once every three weeks to once per week. In the medium term, over six to 24 months, the aim is to upgrade service to three times per week.
WASA said these targets will be supported by several major infrastructure projects, including:
-A four-kilometre transmission pipeline from Mon Desir to Fyzabad
-Completion of three new production wells in Carapal and three in Mendez/Penal
-Refurbishment of the Thicke Village Booster Station and Penal Water Treatment Plant
-Development of five additional wells in Palo Seco/Los Bajos, with a projected 850,000 gallons per day
-An upgrade of the Carapal Water Treatment Plant
Joseph said the upgrades support Government’s national mandate to deliver equitable and sustainable water access to all communities. He added that WASA’s evolution will deliver a more reliable and customer-focused utility.