Water Minister Brand visits Water Enhancement project sites at Hamilton

in NIA

The new 400,000 gallon water tank under construction at Hamilton on January 16, 2020, as part of the Nevis Water Department’s Water Enhancement Project
The new 400,000 gallon water tank under construction at Hamilton on January 16, 2020, as part of the Nevis Water Department’s Water Enhancement Project

 NIA CHARLESTOWN NEVIS (January 16, 2020) — Hon. Spencer Brand, Minister responsible for Water Services on Nevis, says the Nevis Island Administration (NIA) continues with its thrust to provide additional water, with additional water storage facilities at Hamilton.

Hon. Spencer Brand, Minister responsible for Water Services; Dr. Ernie Stapleton, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry; and Mr. Denzil Stanley, Principal Assistant Secretary taking a first-hand look at the new storage tank under construction the Hamilton Reservoir site by contractors Florida Aqua Store, during a visit on January 16, 2020
Hon. Spencer Brand, Minister responsible for Water Services; Dr. Ernie Stapleton, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry; and Mr. Denzil Stanley, Principal Assistant Secretary taking a first-hand look at the new storage tank under construction the Hamilton Reservoir site by contractors Florida Aqua Store, during a visit on January 16, 2020

The Minister made the comment during a site visit to the Hamilton reservoirs and water well on January 16, 2020. He expressed satisfaction with the ongoing project and spoke of the significance of the project to Nevis and its people.

“Last year we would have suffered a severe drought on the island of Nevis which created major headache for us on the island of Nevis as it regards to the availability of water. So the Ministry and the Cabinet took a decision to improve the volume of water on the island…and as a result we entered into this venture to construct this new tank.

“We also had a tank here which I think is over 100 years, and it has been sitting there for some time  and we believe that with that storage capacity the island of Nevis can do well so we embarked on this project,” he said.

Mr. Brand noted that it was a pleasant site for him to witness the constriction of the new water tank which on completion will have the capacity to store 400,000 gallons of water. He believes that the water project will not come a moment too soon to meet the demand for water on the island, given weather expert’s prediction of droughts forecast for 2020 and for developmental projects.

(l-r) Mr. Billy Lightsey, representative for Florida Aqua Store, contractors for the construction of the new water tank at Hamilton; Mr. Floyd Robinson Manager of the Water Resource Management Department on Nevis; Mr. Denzil Stanley, Principal Assistant Secretary in the Ministry of Water Services; Hon. Spencer Brand Minister responsible for Water Services on Nevis; and Dr. Ernie Stapleton; and Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Water Services visiting the Water Enhancement Project at Hamilton on January 16, 2020
(l-r) Mr. Billy Lightsey, representative for Florida Aqua Store, contractors for the construction of the new water tank at Hamilton; Mr. Floyd Robinson Manager of the Water Resource Management Department on Nevis; Mr. Denzil Stanley, Principal Assistant Secretary in the Ministry of Water Services; Hon. Spencer Brand Minister responsible for Water Services on Nevis; and Dr. Ernie Stapleton; and Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Water Services visiting the Water Enhancement Project at Hamilton on January 16, 2020

Regarding the old stone storage tank built in 1904, which was abandoned as a result of the wooden roof caving in, the minister noted that the roof would be replaced with a steel frame roof and would be returned to its original function.

The minister added that the existing fiberglass storage tank would be demolished and would be replaced with a filtration system from water harnessed from a well in Hamilton, ½ a mile away which was drilled some years ago. However it was rendered unsafe for consumption with high levels of manganese and iron.

Mr. Brand explained the reason behind the installation of the filtration system which is being constructed in the USA and is expected to be on the island by the end of January.

“We will continue to pursue new sources of water and we feel that this source of water here, based on the numbers that we have seen, in terms of the volume of water that we can get from this, we felt that it was financially prudent to add the filtration system to this particular well, and so in an effort to add that additional water this would be a good source of additional water to the island of Nevis.

The interior of the 400,000 water tank under construction at the Nevis Water Department’s Hamilton site by workmen of contractors of Florida Aqua Store on January 16, 2020
The interior of the 400,000 water tank under construction at the Nevis Water Department’s Hamilton site by workmen of contractors of Florida Aqua Store on January 16, 2020

“The filtration system should be shipped in a day or so and we feel it should arrive on the island before the month is out and then the installers for the filtration system should be on island very shortly after. So by the end of this month we are expecting to have the filtration system on the island,” he said.

Meantime, the Minister for Water Services pointed the need for additional water due to predicted adverse weather patterns and development on the island will be satisfied with the added water and storage facilities.

“The aim is to provide a lot more water for the island of Nevis because from all forecasts we recognise we will continue to have severe droughts and we will continue to see the expansion of the demand for water on the island of Nevis. So this project is very important and vital to the island of Nevis as it regards to increased capacity for the island of Nevis.

The old stone water tank (r) to be restored for greater storage capacity and the fiberglass water tank (l) which will be demolished making way for the erection of a filtration system at the Nevis Water Department’s Hamilton site on January 16, 2020
The old stone water tank (r) to be restored for greater storage capacity and the fiberglass water tank (l) which will be demolished making way for the erection of a filtration system at the Nevis Water Department’s Hamilton site on January 16, 2020

“It also puts us in a position where we can continue to see the growth in the housing and general development on the island of Nevis because if we intend to embark on any major development on the island of Nevis, let’s say another Four Seasons for example, we have to be in a position to provide them with an adequate volume of water. So this project is very, very vital as it regards to all our major development on the island of Nevis,” he said.

Accompanying Minister Brand on his site visit at Hamilton were Dr. Ernie Stapleton, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry responsible for Water Services, Mr. Denzil Stanley, Principal Assistant Secretary in the ministry; and Mr. Floyd Robinson, Manager of the Water Resource Management Department.

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