Nassau, Bahamas – The Water and Sewerage Corporation (WSC) wishes to provide the following further update to our customers and the general public following the passage of Hurricane Joaquin. WSC deployed Assessment and Disaster Recovery Teams to San Salvador, Long Island, Crooked Island & Long Cay and Acklins on Sunday October 04 following the passage of Hurricane Joaquin.

A. San Salvador

On Monday, WSC shipped a large emergency generator to power our Desalination Plant in Cockburn Town and smaller generators and wellfield pumps to reactivate our Wellfield Water Supply System as a temporary measure.  Today (Wednesday) WSC dispatched two (2) technicians to complete the connection of the emergency generator to the desalination plant.  If this is successful, the desalination plant should be reactivated by late this evening with initial water supply into the system for distribution system testing commencing by tomorrow (Thursday).  In the interim, residents are being supplied via a limited Wellfield Water Supply using a smaller standby generator for power supply.  

B. Long Island

WSC’s Simms Desalination Plant was reactivated on Saturday evening after the restoration of BEC’s power supply.  The Deadman’s Cay Desalination Plant which supplies all of Central Long Island was reactivated on Monday using the onsite standby generator.  The plant remains on; however parts of the distribution system remain off due to a large number of leaks caused during the passage of the hurricane.  WSC deployed a 4-man team today (Wednesday) with additional vehicles to assist with the urgent location of all system leaks and their repair.

C. Crooked Island and Long Cay

Works to reactivate the Colonel Hill Wellfield Water Supply System using a standby generator for power supply is in progress.  It is expected that this system should be active by tomorrow (Thursday).   The team was able to get to Long Cay on Tuesday and confirmed that WSC’s Desalination Plant is intact but there is no power supply.  WSC is working closely with BEC for the early restoration of the power supply.  Residents are being supplied via gravity feed from the limited water supply in the storage tanks.  

D. Acklins

The Snug Corner/Mason’s Bay Desalination Plant was reactivated on Monday following the restoration of BEC’s power supply.  The Hard Hill Tank System is being supplied from Snug Corner/Mason’s Bay.   The Salina Point Desalination Plant is intact but there is no power supply. WSC is working closely with BEC for the early restoration of the power supply. Residents are being supplied via gravity feed from the limited water supply in the storage tank.  The team has reported that the Chesters/Lovely Bay Wellfield now has BEC power supply and the team has reactivated the water supply.  The pipeline to Lovely Bay is reported to have sustained heavy damage when the bridge was washed away.  A repair team is being prepared for deployment to carry out the required repairs.   

E. Mayaguana

Our on island staff has reported that BEC’s power supply to the Pirates Well/Betsy Bay Wellfield Water Supply System is on and the system is now supplying water to the residents.  They also reported no damage to the new Desalination Plants on island which are being readied for commissioning in the coming weeks in Abraham’s Bay and Pirates Well/Betsy Bay.

WSC will take emergency steps to ensure that potable water is made easily available at all of our facilities in the affected islands for all persons in need of water to meet their personal and family requirements.

WSC extends our sincere thanks and appreciation to our staff, and to all Governmental agencies, private businesses and citizens who have offered kind assistance to us and our staff to assist us in our ongoing recovery efforts.

Further updates will follow.