In Tobago there has also been a significant improvement in wastewater services, with the

construction of two new sewer systems at Bon Accord and Samaan Grove. This has resulted in over
400 new wastewater customers and improvement in the wastewater coverage to customers in the
coastal areas of Crown Point, Pigeon Point, Black Rock, Golden Grove and Buccoo.
As the Water Resources Agency leads in the IWRM efforts, we must all work to minimize the
negative effects of activities that pose significant threats to our watercourses, which ultimately impact
water availability, quality and flooding. These include indiscriminate wastage, indiscriminate dumping,
sedimentation of streams through poorly-managed quarrying, disposal of industrial effluent
discharged from non-functioning wastewater treatment plants, slash and burn agricultural practices
and agricultural runoff.
In addition to these anthropogenic activities, there are also natural threats to our water
resources from the impacts of climate variability and climate change. This is evident by the reduced
rainfall locally in recent years and the harsh 2019 dry and wet seasons in particular. These threats to
the quantity and quality of our water resources are also occurring against a backdrop of increasing
demand for potable water. Although the resource is renewable, it is finite and must therefore be
managed to sustainably.
As a country, we urgently need to achieve a paradigm shift in the way we treat with our water
resources. The narrative of Trinidad and Tobago being classified as water-rich must be tempered by
the reality that without efficient water resource management, we will not avoid the faith of other
water-stressed nations. This speaks directly to the ability of all sectors and stakeholders working
collaboratively to achieve water sustainability for our nation. The authority remains committed to
doing its part towards this end and will continue to work closely with other stakeholders to ensure
that we remain on a path to achieving this goal. I thank you.
Mr. Chairman: Okay. So, we will now have questions being posed by members. Just as a reminder
to bear in mind, that I am sure WASA has appeared many times before joint select committees, and
is, from what I understand, scheduled to appear before other select committees in the very near future,
so that it is just the objectives of the enquiry we are basically focusing on water security. We do not
intend to get into all the detail operations, the nitty-gritty and all of those things regarding the authority
itself, but more broad-based policy and directives regarding ensuring water security as based on the
objectives I outlined at the beginning. Member Jennings-Smith.
Mr. Jennings-Smith: I would be very specific. I want to refer my first question to WASA. I want to
refer to your own submission on page 7 where you indicated that four booster stations are to be
constructed or upgraded in northwest Trinidad, the contracts are to be awarded and work is expected

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to be completed in the third quarter of 2020.
Now, I represent the constituency of Toco/Sangre Grande and I have complaints from those
people every single month, in particular the people from Matura and Sangre Grande and the outlying
areas. But I want to specifically focus on this question right now. You said that storage tanks have
been constructed and commissioned at Four Roads, Diego Martin, Tucker Valley, Chaguaramas,
Hololo, Cascade and Charlotteville, Tobago with two additional to be commissioned in Quarry,
Valencia and Guanapo. And you also said that communities to benefit include Carenage, Petit Valley,
Diego Martin, St. Ann's, Arima, Calvary Hill, Valencia and Charlotteville. Given the work that is
expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2020 for the four booster stations, can you provide
details on the status of the award of contract, the tendering process used to select the contracts, the
contracts’ cost and the contractor selected for the work?
Mr. Poon-King: Okay, first with respect to the four booster stations, we are at the stage where the
physical work, we have signed the contracts, and so on, with the vendors and the work is scheduled
to commence shortly. I will let Ms. Lee Sing Pereira provide the details of that.
The two contractors that were selected, it was an open tender and there were two contractors,
Toshiba Water is one and the other is D. Rampersad.
Mr. Jennings-Smith: Okay, great. Could you tell me the status for the two additional storage tanks
to be commissioned in Quarry, Valencia and Guanapo? And when will these be commissioned?
Mr. Poon-King: Right, so I will let Ms. Lee Sing Pereira provide those details.
Mrs. Lee Sing Pereira: The Quarry and the Guanapo tanks, they are approximately 95 per cent
completed. Right now, what we are working on is the interconnecting pipework to just complete, to
put those tanks into service. But those tanks are completed, 95 per cent substantially complete, and it
is just the pipework now to close it off and do the testing.
Mr. Jennings-Smith: Could you give me a timeline as to when it will be commissioned? Because I
realize that residents of Valencia will get some level of impact, in terms of supply of water. So could
you tell me when, the locality you are looking at.
Ms. Lee Sing Pereira: So we anticipate by the ending of this month, March, that those tanks should
be placed and commissioned.
Mr. Jennings-Smith: I have another question for the Chairman. Now, you are aware that there is a
station in Matura, and I have there in office for the past four years, and I have been asking questions
about that particular booster station in Matura. I believe that the problem still exists. Can give me an
update as to what is really happening in Matura? I know you are very well aware because I continue
discussion with the area manager about that particular booster station in Matura.

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Mr. Poon-King: Would this be the treatment plant in Matura?
Mr. Jennings-Smith: Yes, the treatment plant in Matura, because there is a problem with the tank,
the pump, that every time rain falls there is no water and consistent it has been happening over the
past few years. Can you tell me if any improvement work was done, and if so what was done?
Mr. Poon-King: No, no improvement work would have been done yet to that station. But based on
what you have described, the plant as it is we need to review the treatment process, what would occur,
during periods of heavy rainfall you will get a deterioration in the raw water quality, which will result
in what you have described. So we will have to review that process. I have asked the Director of
Operations, but he does not have firsthand information, so we will have to provide an update.
Mr. Jennings-Smith: And last question is that: Can you tell me where do the residents of Sangre
Grande and outlying areas get water supply from?
Mr. Poon-King: Sangre Grande is supplied primarily from the North Oropouche water treatment
plant, and we do also have localized wells to supplement the supply within Sangre Grande itself.
Mr. Jennings-Smith: Has any work been identified, in terms of, with regard to the supply of water
to these areas within the last two years?
Mr. Poon-King: We have had issues with the wells in Sangre Grande and we are currently working
on those to have them back up to full production. Other than that, well the North Oropouche, we
have done work at North Oropouche which would have benefited Sangre Grande.
Mr. Jennings-Smith: Okay, thank you very much. Your submission also indicated that a list of high
leakage mains has been developed by WASA, which takes into account the rate of leakage. Which
areas are most affected by leaking mains?
Mr. Poon-King: The leaking mains would be across Trinidad and Tobago. So there is no area that I
can, at this point, pinpoint to say this one is worse.
Mr. Jennings-Smith: So, in other words there will not be an opportunity to say that you have a
priority listing to deal with those leaking areas?
Mr. Poon-King: There would be a listing that has been prioritized, based on the level of leakage. That
could be provided.
Mr. Jennings-Smith: So you can provide this Committee with a list of the priority listing?
Mr. Poon-King: Correct.
Mr. Jennings-Smith: Okay, can you.
Mr. Chairman: Member De Freitas.
Mr. De Freitas: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. So we are dealing with water security today and a lot of
what you have submitted to us speaks to the objective that WASA is trying to achieve, which is supply

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