The promised injection wells should soon be operational at the South Coast Sewage Treatment Plant.
Minister of Health John Boyce gave this assurance yesterday when he addressed the official opening of the annual Flow Oistins Fish Festival.
He said the overflow of effluent from manholes along the stretch between Graeme Hall and Hastings had been contained.
“The Barbados Water Authority [BWA] is in the final stages of preparation to put four injection wells into operation at the plant. This should provide the opportunity for repairs to be carried out in the affected influent and effluent pipes, which are located underground along the stretch of road network mentioned earlier,” he said.
Surface influent is also being diverted and some businesses have been taken off the grid and returned temporarily to their own wells.
Boyce also said that from the first day of this situation, a multi-sectoral committee was established which reported weekly with the objective of keeping Barbadians and visitors safe and aware of precautions that should be taken.
“This committee has never recommended the closure of the South Coast. Some businesses opted to close or change operating hours to help deal with the situation.
“We in the Ministry have deployed 15 environmental officers, went into homes, did training programmes, where we’ve told residents about best practices, given the circumstances, and intensified mosquitoes programme to help eliminate discomfort and health threats posed by these vectors,” Boyce said. (TG)
