Upgrades to the National Sewerage Infrastructure are among the plans for this year to be undertaken by the Water and Sewerage Department.

Director, Mrs. Perline Scatliffe-Leonard said Cane Garden Bay will receive a 100 percent overhaul as the old system, which is a Sequencing Batch Reactor (SBR), performed to its optimum and now is not meeting the needs of the community.

The Director said, “What is required is a system that would ensure tertiary treatment of the waste, which would be less harmful to our environment. In addition to this, the system sustained total destruction during 2017 hurricanes.”

 “We would be removing the existing pump stations and installing new stations in areas where we expect to receive optimal performance of the sewerage infrastructure in Cane Garden Bay,” she added

Mrs. Scatliffe-Leonard further stated, “Residents in Cane Garden Bay can expect to see proper infrastructures including pump stations and electricals installed. Further, installations would be done with the intention of minimising or avoiding any possible future damages to the system whether by storms or floods.”

Cane Garden Bay currently has 35 pump stations, an extremely high number compared to the 31 pump stations that service the territory of the United States Virgin Islands.

Coordinator for the Cane Garden Bay National Water and Sewerage Project, Mr. Andy O. Phillip said, “The purpose of the project is basically to put an end to the environmental and social-economic impacts due to the system not functioning.”

The new project is estimated to cost 1.5 million dollars exclusive of road reinstatement and rehabilitation and contains 7 pump stations, an upgrade of 12 inch gravity mains and 6 inch HDPE pressure mains with a few solar energy elements.

Additionally, the new treatment plant will be expected to produce clear odorless effluent, like that of Burt Point that will eliminate negative environmental impacts.  The current system will undergo retrofitting to improve effluent quality and capacity efficiencyin the Interim.

To view tour of Burt Point Treatment Plant click here.

The Water and Sewerage Department is also continuing to enhance the sewerage system in Road Town.

Mrs. Scatliffe-Leonard said, “We are working to see improved performance of the pump station in the Fort Burt area, by installing a new pump.  We are also working in the area of First Bank, Station Avenue, Horse Path, Purcell and Baugher’s Bay to resolve issues in those areas.”

Works will also be carried on in the upper Greenland area to implement temporary measures until the sewerage infrastructure on the eastern end of Tortola is up and functioning.   

While works continue, the public is reminded of the following tips to ensure the sustainability of the national and private infrastructures.

• Do not flush feminine products, diapers and other foreign objects in the toilet
• Do not dispose of plastics, hair balls or grease in private or public systems
• Conduct regular inspection and repairs when necessary.
• Report all water and sewerage leaks to the department by calling 499-0500, 468-9062, 468-5799 (water) and 468-9860, 468-9176, 468-9433 (sewerage)