The Tribune

A contractor is aiming to build on the $69m savings it has generated for the Water & Sewerage Corporation, its customers and Bahamian taxpayers as it enters the final phase of its loss-cutting efforts.

Miya Bahamas said it was able to execute its water efficiency strategies last year despite having to alter its 2020 targets due to the COVID-19 pandemic. “This [last] year was a difficult one for everyone,” said project manager, Mario Tavera.

“We experienced some challenges in securing equipment due to border closures and a host of other logistical issues. However, through increased communication with the Water & Sewerage Corporation we were able to get the job done.”

For the past nine years, Miya has played the key role in cutting non-revenue water losses suffered by the Water & Sewerage Corporation's New Providence network. The use of a performance-based Service Level Agreement (SLA) to track their efforts resulted in $69m in savings, and public recognition from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) of their success.

"The COVID-19 pandemic and the resultant financial impact on the government and people of The Bahamas has presented the most significant challenge for the Water & Sewerage Corporation in its history," said executive chairman, Adrian Gibson.

"It is absolutely essential that our water supply remains uninterrupted during this period to ensure our residents and the visitors to our shores have ready access to proper sanitation at all times.

“The Water & Sewerage Corporation is indeed grateful for the dedication of our staff and our various public-private partnerships (PPPs), such as our New Providence non-revenue water contractor, MIYA Bahamas, who have assisted us in meeting this objective during the pandemic."

As part of its efforts to comply with newly-established COVID protocols, the company used technology to help remote work teams monitor and control the water supply, perform proactive leak detection surveys and take the most efficient pressure management actions.

“We were able to come up with a new work flow strategy that provided greater flexibility for our employees, and which created a hybrid environment that allowed for socially distant office work and in fieldwork as well,” noted Mr Tavera.

“As a result, Miya Bahamas was able to maintain full employment over 2020, and this meant employee benefits were not impacted as well. We are most proud of the commitment shown by our staff. They truly rose to the occasion in the face of the pandemic and have exceeded our expectations.”

Miya is entering the final phase of its IDB-sponsored contract in The Bahamas. “As COVID-19 restrictions ease, we are looking forward to continuing the success of this project with the Water & Sewerage Corporation,” said Mr Tavera.

“Our success here has helped lead to other work in the Caribbean, including a $13m water works improvement with Jamaica’s National Water Commission (NWC) for a similar non-revenue water (NRW) Reduction Programme."

The company is also under new ownership, as Antin Infrastructure Partners acquired Miya from Bridgepoint late last year.

CAPTION

Miya Bahamas is in the final phase of an Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) sponsored project with the Water & Sewerage Corporation

Photos courtesy of Barefoot Marketing