DOWASCO to upgrade Castle Bruce water system
First were the roads, then the electricity, and now the water supply. Have the people of Castle Bruce not suffered enough?
The expansive eastern community of Castle Bruce is the largest in the parish of St. David. It is home to approximately 1,500 people.
The area is primarily focused on agriculture and is home to an important road network that leads to the Kalinago Territory to the north and Good Hope and other villages to the south.
A couple of years ago, the community saw works on the East Coast Road Project, a $126 million rehabilitation project under the Disaster Vulnerable Reduction Project (DVRP) with the Climate Investment Fund of the World Bank. During work, bus drivers constantly complained about the state of the road and its impact on their vehicles. Teachers complained about travelling through these conditions to work, and residents complained about having to endure these road conditions daily.
Subsequently, the picturesque community was subject to load shedding by Dominica Electricity Services (DOMLEC), which plunged parts of the country into darkness, sometimes with a warning and other times without.
Castle Bruce residents must add an unreliable water supply system to its long list of woes.
The island's sole water company, the Dominica Water and Sewerage Company Limited (DOWASCO) is acutely aware of this thorn in the side of the Castle Bruce people, particularly in the areas of Senhouse, Jalouside, and Enbas Snow. DOWASCO's Public Relations Officer, Kimani St. Jean, said the company promises a comprehensive upgrade of the Castle Bruce Water system, which is expected to begin in March 2025.
However, before that, short-term measures will be implemented to address the current situation immediately.
"In the short term, DOWASCO will be implementing urgent measures to help mitigate the situation. Temporary water lines will be installed to enhance water distribution to areas where it is possible," St. Jean said.
According to the water company, the areas mentioned earlier are experiencing interruptions to their water supply due to issues within the distribution network. These problems have arisen because of the ageing infrastructure, which demands significant upgrades.
"But in the long term, DOWASCO is committed to providing a more permanent solution through a comprehensive upgrade to the Castle Bruce water system under the water sector strategic development project," St. Jean said.
Before the project comes on stream, St. Jean said that the company's repair crews have been working diligently to address leaks along the pipeline, though the system remains vulnerable due to its deteriorating infrastructure.
"Under this project, the following works will be undertaken: construction of an intake system on the Yellow Stone/Raymond Stone River; installation of a new hundred thousand gallon storage tank at the proposed pump station site; and a new two hundred thousand gallon storage tank in the upper part of the village," she said.
Mindful of the hardships faced by the Castle Bruce residents because of the constant disruptions to their water supply – resulting from several leaks along the current water network - St. Jean continued with the features and upgrades associated with the water sector strategic development plan.
"Construction of a new pump station and associated supply pipelines, replacement of aged distribution pipeline within the village, and new controlled valves to improve overall system performance. These enhancements will ensure a more reliable water supply for Castle Bruce."
With the major water enhancement project scheduled for three months, the DOWASCO PRO updated the public on the water company's ongoing activities to ensure all systems go for March 2025.
"DOWASCO is procuring the necessary pipes and fittings for this project, and we anticipate that work will begin in March 2025 with a view to completion by March 2026," she said.
St. Jean reaffirmed that these enhancements will ensure a more reliable and abundant water supply for Castle Bruce's residents.