Construction of the $220 million South Coast Water Treatment project is expected to begin in October, the Barbados Water Authority (BWA) announced on Wednesday.
The project, which is expected to take about two and a half years to complete, will produce an additional three million cubic metres of reclaimed water and could benefit up to 260 farmers.
President of the Barbados Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association, Peter Chase, welcomed the development, saying farmers were struggling with inadequate water supplies amid drought concerns.
“Farmers in St Philip are suffering from (inadequate) water,” Chase told a BWA town hall meeting at Hawthorne Methodist Church, in Christ Church.
“I can’t say how happy I am as a farmer. I have suffered in the last couple of weeks as a farmer,” he said, adding that farmers in St Lucy were also in need of relief.
BWA project manager Shelley Parris said making reclaimed water available for agriculture would free up more potable water for household use.
However, she cautioned: “We are still classified as a water scarce country.”
Project co-ordinator Ian Constantine said the project would upgrade the facility from primary to advanced water treatment, with continuous testing to ensure safety.
“There will be continuous testing for the safety of all,” he said.
The project is being financed through an $80 million loan from the Inter-American Development Bank, a $60 million loan from the Global Climate Fund and an $80 million grant from the Global Climate Fund.
Chase said similar treatment plants had helped farmers in Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica and Anguilla.
Officials also sought to reassure residents that the nearby Graeme Hall Nature Sanctuary would not be affected by the project.
“There will be multiple agencies overlooking the project,” Constantine said.
But residents raised concerns about the impact of the existing facility as Rendezvous Hill resident June Maughn said she was affected daily by “stench” when she opened her doors.
“It is very bad,” she said. A BWA staff member took Maughn’s contact information for follow-up as its chief executive officer, Peter Thompson, said the authority was committed to minimising disruption.
“We are trying our utmost to reduce and remove any discomfort (to the public),” he said.
A Grievance Redress Mechanism will also be established, while Lisa Perch of Saedi Consulting said there were “lots of plans to reduce risks”.
Among the issues to be addressed are odour, noise, traffic and road safety.
“There are many advantages for the island of Barbados with this upgraded plant, but yes, there will be some discomfort associated with the upgrade,” Thompson acknowledged. (HH)
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