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Caribbean Water and Sewage Association Inc. January to March 2018 Hurricane Maria Recovery in Dominica IN THIS ISSUE 2017: A Year of Accomplishments Successful 2-day Seminar for BWA Staff– Page 5 Cayman Islands Laboratory Accreditation and Challengesl – Page 2 Renewed – Page 9 5th Water Operators’ Conference in Dominica - Page 6 CAWASA Secretariat News - Pages 2 - 4 NAWASA Launches School Community Water Web-based Operator Certification Exams - Page 7 Storage Project - Page 10 13th High Level Forum of Caribbean Ministers - Page 5 BWA Personal Water Tank Programme - Page 8 NURC Launches Website - Page 11 Page 2 e-Source January to March 2018 CAWASA Secretariat News 2017 BWS Electrical Team dispatched to Dominica to A Year of assist with Hurricane Relief to restore water systems Accomplishments and Challenges L-R: Fredrick Sandiford, Russel Young, STIHL Chain Saw Ignatius Jean Ignacio Belisle and Edmond Pandy Executive Director CAWASA Today, Monday November 13, 2017, our BWS Lucia, before taking a four-hour boat ferry to arrive team arrived in Dominica after travelling the entire in Dominica as all available flights to Dominica This first issue of our quarterly publication, weekend to assist with restoration efforts after were fully booked out. E-Source, gives us the opportunity to reflect damages experienced due to the recent hurricane Dowasco has also requested some crucial on the past year and to give a sneak peek into activities in the Caribbean. The team comprises: Mr. electrical items such as transfer switches which are 2018. The year 2017 was mixed with significant Frederick Sandiford, Resident Engineer Consultant not available in Dominica at this time. The team accomplishments and challenges for our and Electrical Engineer, Russell Young M&E had to carry all this extra overweight of equipment Association. The devastation caused by the Supervisor, Edmond Pandy, and Ignacio Belisle, on their adventurous journey along with tools and mega storms, Irma and Maria, are now etched Senior Electricians. These employees willingly the other items deemed necessary to assist them in the annals of history with many important responded to a call for assistance from the Dominica with working in the recovery environment. lessons for us all. Water and Sewage Company (DOWASCO), which BWS has also separately donated some essential These severe events highlighted both was channeled through the Caribbean Water and supplies and equipment to DOWASCO, including: longstanding and acute needs to improve water Wastewater Association (CWWA) of which BWS • 1500 Glove latex 18 mil lined latex rolled cuff and wastewater infrastructure resiliency. As is a member. embossed grip; high-intensity storm events like these become Minister Reginal Austrie, Minister responsible • 100 Glove power flex Natural rubber 206402-9; more common, there is urgent need for our for water in Dominica, reached out to the CWWA • 25 box Tyvek coverall zipper front elastic cuff & utilities to establish a structured disaster last week requesting urgent help to connect eleven ankle white X-large box; response mechanism that will enable affected (11) standby/mobile generators to power their • 6 chain saw STIHL MS 251 W/18” Bar; utilities resume normal operations quickly after treatment plants and pumping stations. Dominica • 6 Saw cutoff gas powered STIHL TS420 a catastrophic event. does not expect to have electricity supply fully CUTQUIK. Catastrophes like Hurricanes Irma and Maria restored for months, and desperately needs to BWS is proud our team, whose members all remind us of the common humanity we share. restore a full potable water supply to the population answered the call to serve as our ambassadors. This was manifested through the outpouring of to ensure clean and healthy living conditions. They were willing and ready to serve at a moment’s help to the devastated islands. On behalf of our The call was well received by BWS, who within notice. They exemplify those attributes and core affected utilities, we wish to acknowledge with days organized and mobilized our experienced values we all must promote as we journey to sincere gratitude the solidarity demonstrated by team to the island. The Team left Belize on Saturday attaining our vision to be the leading utility in the all our utilities, governments, donor agencies, and had to overnight in Miami and then again in St. developing world. people and private sector from near and far. During 2017 we delivered a very successful Water Operators’ Conference, launched the online 360 Water Operator training platform, upgraded our website, established several new relationships with external training agencies and registered a few associate members. In the CAWASA Receives CDB Grant of latter part of the year we were actively involved in post hurricane relief and recovery effort for affected utilities in the region. US$149K for Dominica and BVI 2018 started with the exciting news of the approval of a US$149,000 grant from the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) for hurricane recovery support for the Dominica Hurricane Recovery Water & Sewerage Company (DOWASCO), and the Water and Sewerage Department (WSD) of The Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) In the aftermath of the devastation, it was clear The British Virgins Islands. We also had good has approved a grant of US$149,521 for the that the region faced a long, hard road to recovery. news for our operators who are pursuing the implementation of a Hurricane Recovery The availability of safe water and basic ABC Certification programme, that we will Project for Dominica and the British Virgin sanitation conditions are fundamental for soon transition from paper-based examinations Islands (BVI): “Emergency Relief for Water protecting the health of the people in these islands, to web-based examinations. In addition, we Supply and Sanitation Services – Hurricane particularly in the aftermath of these catastrophic have intensified the promotion of the ABC Irma and Maria”. events when people are displaced and vulnerable. Certification programme through outreach to The Project will be managed by CAWASA in Furthermore, the affected utilities were totally the various utilities beginning with the Barbados collaboration with the beneficiary water utilities overwhelmed by the magnitude of destruction. Water Authority (BWA) as well as the access to and regional partners. The funds will be applied It is in this regard that CAWASA approached a suite of online study materials. We take the opportunity to congratulate the towards the procurement of materials and the CDB for financial assistance towards the Board of Directors, Management and Staff of the supplies, transportation and accommodation of expeditious restoration of water and sewerage Water Authority of the Cayman Islands on the work crews from regional utilities. services in affected islands. occasion of the 35th Anniversary their utility. In September, 2018 Hurricanes Irma and Maria CAWASA members as well as other water As with any new year, 2018 has arrived with struck the Northern and Eastern Caribbean utilities and key partners such as the Caribbean an exciting mix of opportunities and challenges. islands with incredible power and fury, wreaking Water and Wastewater Association (CWWA) We promise to improve our support to our havoc in communities across the region. Entire and the Caribbean Desalination Association utilities in strengthening their capacities, staff neighbourhoods were devastated. Families (CaribDA), have all given tremendous support training and development, and strengthening lost their homes. Businesses were destroyed. to the recovery programme. CAWASA would the networks among utilities and development Infrastructure was torn apart. It was another like to thank the CDB for funding this project. partners. major blow to the island of Dominica in particular, The CDB is a leading partner in infrastructure We look forward to your valued contributions that was only just recovering from the devastation development and disaster risk management in to our quarterly newsletter E-Source in 2018 and caused by Tropical Storm Erika in August, 2015. the Caribbean. beyond. January to March 2018 e-Source Page 3 NAWASA Team Return from Supporting DOWASCO International Airport by afforded to assist Dominica’s nationals. General Manager Mr. The third of the three, Garvin Jones, was also Christopher Husbands, grateful for the opportunity to be able to assist. Manager and Assistant “The place was real destroyed. It brought back Manager of Transmission memories to how Ivan was…but we did our best and Distribution Mr. Joel and the Dominicans were happy that we came to Thomas and Mr. Ernest help them out.” Bruno, and Human General Manager Christopher Husbands Resource Manager Mrs. highlights NAWASA’s corporate social Pansy Ventour. responsibility and notes that the company stands Immediately on his ready to send another team if a request is made. return Kurt Edwards DOWASCO management indicated that the team indicated his readiness to did an exceptional job and expressed gratitude return to the Nature Isle for the support. Mr. Husbands notes that as a to assist in completing the regional utility and having gone through a similar work they have started. experience following the passage of Hurricane “It was good; very Ivan, NAWASA understands what it’s like to be challenging as well…I’m thrust into that situation. “Certainly, the region as Three National Water and Sewerage Authority willing to go back and give them the pull out a whole has increased collaboration