HUNDREDS OF HOUSEHOLDS in St Michael and Christ Church have no water or are experiencing low water pressure following the rupture of a 20-inch main in Rogers Road, the Ivy, St Michael this evening.
Some hotels along the south coast have also been affected.
St Michael districts without water include Government Hill, Halls Road, Belleville, Belmont Road, Brittons Hill, and parts of Bridgetown up to Roebuck Street.
Areas in Christ Church hardest hit include Rockley and residences and businesses along Highway 7, while the Grand View and Brittons Hill reservoirs have been particularly affected.
Barbados Water Authority (BWA) communications specialist Joy-Ann Haigh said a crew was on site and would remain there until the job was completed.
Quizzed on whether the broken main would affect supplies to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH), Haigh said all measures were being taken to ensure the Martindales Road, St Michael institution wouldn’t have water problems.
If it did, however, water tanks would service it round-the-clock.
“You can be assured that the hospital will not be compromised,” said Haigh.
She said the BWA would try to make adjustments, where possible, to minimise the impact on households.
The first indication that the main had ruptured was reportedly seen just before 4 p.m., and in less than an hour, the heavily trafficked road resembled a river.
Residents reported that the volume of water was so high that cars using the area to get to the Barbados Community College and nearby districts had to turn back to avoid being submerged.
They said a BWA crew arrived about an hour after they were alerted and capped it. (SP)
