Russell Island WateR supply

Water and Sewerage. I know the issues that Eleuthera has been facing for many years. So, I said ‘this is a blessing, and I am going to use the power that the government gave me to make a difference. So, when I leave office, I want to make sure to leave Eleuthera in a position that everyone can be proud of, as far as potable water is concerned...”

He added, “We’ve spent in excess of $7 million so far, in fifteen months, to correct all of the things that need to be corrected, and to make sure that when you get home from work, and you turn the tap onyou are confident that the water will flow. Right now we are on a positive path to make sure that all of these problems that we have in Eleuthera right now will be solved within the next several months.”

Chairman Petty continued, “Modu-tanks have been completed in both North (Lower Bogue Plant) and Central Eleuthera (Naval Base Plant) - we have storage tanks of 500,000 gallons each. So, right now we have a lot of storage, which will give us some breathing room in the event that the plant goes down. We have at least 4 days of storage in those modu-tanks. We have also bought two 1.5 million gallons storage tanks, which should be here in April, and would take approximately two months to be erected. We should then have no issues with storage. Now we have to increase our production capacity. We have two desalination units coming with production capacity of approximately 250,000 gallons per day, which will help greatly with the production and storage in Eleuthera. Once we get those up and running, and our storage tanks erected, we should have no water issues at all in Eleuthera.”

WSC General Manager, Mr. Robert Deal, in an overview of works undertaken and being completed throughout The Eleutheras, shared, “Essentially we are carrying out works across North and Central Eleuthera, primarily focused at this point on upgrading the desalination operations to improve their reliability, but we are also improving the production capacity. So, we expect in short order, you will see an increase in our production capacity at our plants at the Naval Base - and in several more months a further expansion at the Lower Bogue plant. Also, both plants at the Naval Base and Lower Bogue, we are going to be increasing the storage capacity. Storage is important to ensure that if there are any challenges at the desalination plant, water that is in storage can be taken out of storage and put into the supply - that’s the reason we need sufficient storage...

“We will also be improving the storage capacity on Harbour Is- land. Presently, Harbour Island has one single 250,000 gallon tank, and that is leaking and has challenges. So, we will be installing two new 250,000 gallon tanks, doubling the capacity. Also, the existing tank here in Spanish Wells, shortly we will be refurbishing that tank to ensure that it is in good order. So, we are carrying out works here in Harbour Island, Spanish Wells, at Lower Bogue and at the Naval Base.

“Eleuthera will see consistent works in North and Central Eleuthera over the next few years to improve the reliability of our operations, and also to expand water to customers who may not presently have water supply.”

Detailing the expected timeline for the upgraded production and storage capacity in North and Central Eleuthera, Mr. Roberts added, “We expect the storage works to be completed by this summer - 2023 (1.5 million imperial gallons in potable water storage tanks for the Bogue and another 1.5 million imperial gallons for the Naval Base).”

He continued, “Also, very substantial production capacity work, with respect particularly to the Naval Base in the next few months are to be completed, and later in the summer in terms of North Eleuthera (Two desalination plants with a combined capacity of approximately 260,000 imperial gallons per day have arrived in New Providence and are presently being cleared. It is expected that these units will be shipped to the Naval Base facility shortly and will be fully operational by late April 2023, increasing the overall production capacity of that plant from the present 450,000 gallons per day to 710,000 gallons per day. At the Bogue, the plan is to increase the production capacity from 600,000 gallons per day to 800,000 gallons per day. WSC executives are awaiting the Contractor’s formal timeline on those works.).

“The idea is for this year to have substantial improvement at both Lower Bogue and Naval Base operations.”

Top: Graceful dance duo entertain during the water commissioning ceremony. Bottom Clockwise: Supt. Knowles greets a resident; Audience appreciating a performance by students of the Wellington Preparatory school. MP Sylvanus Petty stops for a photo opportunity with his siblings Donna and Therese, joined by a colleague. Viante Johnson, Officer Munroe, and Amanda Kemp - out on break, to catch a glimpse of PM Davis as he arrives on island.