Barbados Today

While two of the worst sewage affected areas on the south coast appear to be experiencing some relief, the problem seems to be emerging in other areas, according to a spokesman for the residents.

Community activist Adrian Donavan said the bubbling effluent which had been a common sight in front of the post office and FirstCaribbean International Bank in Worthing and near Lanterns Mall in Hastings, Christ Church has eased after repair work by the Barbados Water Authority (BWA).

However, he said the smelly water has reappeared yards away from the those locations, to less affected areas.

“In other words, it has shifted. Where the overflow was in front CIBC – they doing some work there, the drain is open – the problem area has shifted in front Esso Gas Station opposite Trimart, and in front Massy,” Donavan told Barbados TODAY.

“Massy is then worse . . . . So right in front Massy, which is next to the post office, kicking up. They are working on the main problem that has been up and running for a very long time. But the other two kicking up,” he added.

Donavan also said several hundred yards away in the vicinity of Emperor’s Court, ShopSmart and Palm Garden, the sewage has broken out again.

The community activist also reported the BWA has sealed the problematic sewer near Lanterns Mall, with steel slabs covering the damaged area, stressing that while there was some leakage near Tapas and KFC in Hastings, “the main one has stopped for the time being”.

Donavan also reported seeing evidence of effluent appearing for the first time recently on 3rd Avenue in Dover near the luxury international brand, Sandals Barbados Resort, as well as opposite the Regency Cove Hotel in Hastings.

“It was bad on Saturday and Sunday in front the Regency,” he explained.

“Over the weekend some people from Sandals were inspecting the area where the sewage water could be seen mixed with the grass on 3rd Avenue, Dover. They seemed to be concerned it may come too close for comfort,” the spokesman suggested.

Meanwhile, the BWA’s Waste Water Division (WWD) has started dye testing on the first of four proposed injection wells, designed to allow the discharge of pre-treated sewage deep underground, so remedial work can be carried out on the south coast sewerage network.

The dye testing, requested by environmental and health authorities, will determine if the well field, located near the south coast sewerage plant, will pose any environmental threat.

Once the dye testing is completed by tomorrow, the samples will be sent overseas to Ozark Laboratory “and we will get back the results in about a day and they will tell us if the dye has recirculated,” BWA Water Quality Technologist Alex Ifill said.

“The objective of these samples is to catch any dispersion,” Ifill explained.

He said if the water samples test negative for the dye, the authorities will proceed with plans to commission the wells. However, he said, if there is evidence the dye has recirculated, the BWA would have to reconsider its disposal options.

emmanueljoseph@barbadostoday.bb