The Tribune

By DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

THE Grand Bahama Utility Company has repaired a portion of the wells that were impacted by Dorian and expects to achieve island-wide water potability over the next ten weeks.

During an update this week on the current state of water quality, company officials indicated plans to invest in new potable wells and implement technology that will assist in restoration efforts.

Philcher Grant, director of group corporate affairs, said that the company’s target requires 85 percent of the wells to be potable in order to achieve island-wide potable water.

“To date, we are 25 percent towards that target, and we have a two-fold plan on how we plan on achieving the remaining 75 percent,” she said.

She said in addition to new potable wells, company officials will conduct intentional and systematic flushing of existing wells.

In early September, water quality was significantly reduced when seawater flooded the well fields and compromised the island’s freshwater supply.

Dorian, a Category Five storm, had affected well fields one, three and six; a total of 220 wells were impacted. The flooding also destroyed the company’s entire vertical infrastructure, including utility poles, wires, electrical components, control, and motoring systems.

Ms Grant estimates complete water potability by May. She stated that the company has sought an independent lab that is EPA certified that will verify and validate its findings.

Ms Grant said that the water “is safe for most uses”, except for drinking.

She said that salt intrusion is the proper term, rather than “salt contamination”, which gives a false impression to the public about the condition of the water.