Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Barbados Water Authority (BWA), Christopher Mapp, has defended the quality of water being supplied to residents in St Lucy and St Peter, declaring that despite its brown colour, he would personally drink it.
“All indications show that the water is potable,” Mapp said in response to questions about public confidence in the north’s water supply during a press conference on Saturday held at the utility company’s headquarters.
“Would I feel comfortable drinking it? Yes. If other persons are not comfortable drinking it, I would not tell them to do anything that they are not comfortable doing. But I, myself, would be comfortable drinking that water.”
The BWA has been under pressure to address persistent discolouration and sediment issues in the northern parishes.
Mapp revealed that the agency has spent nearly $20 million on mains replacement, including $7 million since April, and expects to complete the project by the first quarter of 2026.
Despite the discolouration, water quality technologist, Jatobi Greaves, assured that the water meets all health and safety standards.
“We sample our Allendale well every month in collaboration with government services and the Environmental Protection Department,” he said. “We test for organics such as metals, parameters like TDS and TSS, and bacteriological parameters. We know that coliforms aren’t present, the heavy metals aren’t present, and the silt causes the colour but that would not affect the safety of the water. We adhere to WHO guidelines and we fall within all the limits. The colour is off-putting, but that’s from sediment.”
To compensate affected households, Mapp said the government approved a $32 rebate – equivalent to the minimum monthly charge – for customers in St Lucy and St Peter, many of whom are now receiving their water entirely free of cost.
“There are customers in St Lucy who are fully being rebated for all of the water that they use,” Mapp said. “Every month we rebate customers in excess of $150,000… So since that started in April this year, we’re almost right now at $1 million in terms of the rebates that we’ve given to customers in St Lucy and St Peter.”
This marks a notable shift for the utility. The Fair Trading Commission (FTC), in its Analysis of BWA Annual Standards of Service Report for 2024, highlighted that while 1,383 customers were eligible for $35,120 in compensation that year, not a cent was paid because no claims were received.
Between 2021 and 2024, a total of 5,464 customers were eligible for $122,965 in compensation, yet none was disbursed.
The FTC also noted “a decline in the performance from the previous year” but said the BWA achieved compliance rates of 75 per cent or higher in four key areas — installation of service, response to complaints, wrongful disconnections, and reconnections after payment.
As the authority races to modernise ageing infrastructure and restore public trust, Mapp maintains that the BWA’s focus remains on ensuring safe and reliable service to all Barbadians.
“The water is safe,” he insisted. “We understand the concern about colour, but from all the tests and all the data, it meets every standard. Our goal is to keep improving until every household feels confident turning on the tap.”
During the conference, director of engineering Charles Leslie gave a detailed look at the water situation in the north.
Mains Replacement Timeline and Costs
The mains replacement programme began over two years ago, with intensified work since April this year.
The average cost for mains replacement is about $1 million per kilometre.
St Lucy has been “fortunate” because many roads have verges, allowing installation of mains at lower cost.
Allendale Pumping Station and Filtration
Allendale has been a major source of water for St Lucy since the 1960s.
Around 2021, the BWA began noticing slight discolouration caused by fine silt entering the well through the northerly adit (a horizontal passageway off the main shaft).
Cleaning the well initially improved water clarity, but the silt returned, prompting further testing and analysis.
Testing was conducted on silt gradation, chemical and biological parameters to determine the best filtration system.
Experts from overseas were invited to review the data and confirm the most suitable treatment approach.
The filtration system being developed at Allendale represents the first line of treatment, with potential for additional treatment to further improve clarity.
Desalination Plant – Hope Plantation
A containerised desalination plant is being installed at the Hope Plantation site.
Hydrogeological work has been completed to determine the best location and number of wells (abstraction and injection).
The plant is expected to be operational next year, providing additional water storage and boosting supply to St Lucy.
Overall Work in St Lucy
The main areas of focus are:
Mains replacement (addressing aged and brittle pipes)
Water treatment improvements at Allendale
Additional water sources through the Hope desalination project
District Improvements
Crab Hill: Previously had low pressure and frequent breaks due to brittle mains; pressure and water colour have improved.
Mount Poyer: Once suffered from very poor pressure; now significantly improved.
Maycox Road: Located above the cement plant, previously in bad condition; mains replaced and services being transferred to the new system.
Broomfield and Maycox Terrace: Similar replacement and service transfer works are ongoing.
The BWA is measuring progress by comparing pressure, flow, and colour before and after upgrades, with regular sampling across the north.
National Mains Replacement Background
Barbados has approximately 2,500 km of water mains, many made of cast iron and spun iron installed as far back as the 1800s.
Due to the age and fragility of the system, strategic replacement programmes have been developed.
The first major mains replacement (about 40 km) took place in 2014, funded by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).
Subsequent funding came from the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), and the BWA is currently working with IDB funding for another 100 km of replacements.
The 100 km programme will not solve all issues but will address the worst sections of the network.
Targets and Commitments
The BWA has set a target of the first quarter of 2026 to resolve the St Lucy water issues.
Leslie pledged that if challenges arise, the Authority will update customers and maintain transparency throughout the process.
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