said WASCO CEO, Zilta George-Leslie, in the face of another shutdown in the water supply. According to her, the pipeline is severely aged and damaged and needs urgent repairs. Going days without water, she says, is the sacrifice Saint Lucians will have to pay.

Preparatory work will begin at the site on Thursday, February 29, with repairs to commence Friday, March 1. Repairs are estimated to take 48 hours.

“The water supply is very compromised at this time because the pipeline, which is the main transmission pipeline, is compromised. That pipeline goes way back. It was designed sometime in 1978, which is some 46 years ago, and, of course, it was installed in the late 1980s. That pipeline was compromised from inception because it was made of mild steel,” the CEO explained.

She explained that the faulty pipeline cannot transport all the water it is supposed to. As a result, about 55% of water is lost due to leakages along the pipe’s route.

“Our backs are against the wall, and we have no choice but to do this shutdown to provide relief down the line,” she said.

WASCO’s Water Services Manager, Jim King, says public cooperation is needed to endure this trying time. He urges affected residents to contact WASCO to get potable water from the trucking services.

“It's not the best. Whenever you get into a ration of water, the situation sometimes doesn't pan out to be what you expect. But that's what we have to do until that date and it will continue this way. We ask the public for their cooperation. Contact us, especially persons who have issues, because sometimes the trucks would go by and not give [water] to everyone. We have persons on the ground, but we need the help of the public also.”