The Tribune

By YOURI KEMP

Tribune Business

Reporter

ykemp@tribunemedia.net

THE Water & Sewerage Corporation’s general manager says the “flange blowouts” that disrupted supply to central Eleuthera for between a week to ten days have now been resolved.

Robert Deal said normal water supplies had been restored following a series of cut-offs, interruptions and low pressure that forced some businesses to last week temporarily close their operations.

Francis Plakaris, owner/ operator of The Front Porch in Central Eleuthera, told Tribune Business on Thursday that he had suffered intermittent water supply for much of 2022. Over the previous week, it had slowed to a “trickle”, and as of Wednesday had been completely cut-off.

“This is hindering my business and hindering our hygienic way of life,” he said. “I eat out of my own kitchen and I serve people out of my kitchen. When I can’t clean my kitchen properly I close down. I am closed now because I haven’t had any water since the morning. People clean themselves every day, and clean their homes every day. I don’t know what the problem is but there is a problem, and I hope they can sort it out.”

Geno Guina, co-owner of Frigate Bar and Grill, added: “We haven’t been off today because we have a private system. We have a back-up and we forget to turn it off from time to time, but the Government water does go off. When it does we switch it over and just never switch it back.”

Paulette Stuart, owner/ operator of Hidden Treasures at Poly Bay, said her water pressure is “very low” and she is trying her best to cope with the situation. She added: “None of our guests seem to be affected by it, we haven’t gotten any complaints.”

Another Eleuthera businessman, speaking under condition of anonymity, said: “Why they can’t get this matter sorted out is beyond me. No matter who we send in to represent us in parliament, we get the same problems year in and year out. The water has been off all day here and spotty all week.

“We need the water service to be consistent and steady. We cannot operate without water. You would think that after all of these years we would be able to have running water on consistently, but here we are.”

Another Eleuthera-based contact, speaking on condition of anonymity, said they had heard “not a peep” from the Water & Sewerage Corporation as to the reason for the supply disruption prior to its statement on Friday. “This is not isolated. This is happening way too frequently. This one has been going on for pretty much close to a week, apart from a brief couple of hours yesterday,” they said on Thursday.

“No water makes it impossible. They haven’t produced anything; no reason, no excuses nothing.” The same source, spoken to yesterday, said their supply was restored by midday Sunday. “It was on for one day, Thursday, and then went off again for Friday and Saturday,” they added. “It’s been ten days, but this is nothing unique.

“However, this year has been particularly bad. It makes one think what would happen if there ever was a catastrophic event, like a hurricane, if it takes them this long to restore it in normal circumstances. We’re grateful it’s back on now.”

The Water & Sewerage Corporation, in a statement apologising to its customers for the disruption, said: “Customers are advised that the ongoing disruptions are as a result of continuous flange blowouts being experienced to the water feed pipes.

“Water & Sewerage Corporation chairman, Sylvanus Petty, in speaking with plant operators said that they offer their apology to residents for the abrupt disruptions in the essential supply. Chairman Petty wishes to assure Central Eleuthera residents that the Corporation is fully engaged with plant operators to arrive at the most expedient solution possible with the hope of providing a further update.

“[He] says that the Corporation is keenly aware that while customers recognise that reverse osmosis plants may encounter operational difficulties at times, all they ask is to have regular water supply that is consistent and reliable, and that’s precisely what the Corporation is feverishly pushing for as it daily communicates with Suez to work to stabilise the plant. He said that the frequent interruptions are a major concern to the Corporation because it does not reflect the level of service that customers have a right to enjoy.”