History

  • The water sector was under direct supervision of the Government of Grenada as a department of Public Works and operated from Tanteen, St. George's.
  • In 1971 the business of water was separated from Public Works, relocated to the vicinity of Queen's Park (now National Stadium) and was called Water Works.
  • In the late 1970s Water Works was relocated to the Carenage and was called the Central Water Commission (CWC).
  • In 1990 there was a name change to National Water and Sewerage Authority (NAWASA) by an Act of Parliament in 1990.

Operations

  • In rural and sub-urban communities water was supplied by slow sand filter systems and the parish of St. George's was supplied by Observatory and Richmond Hill reservoirs.
  • The Observatory reservoir was constructed as a result of combating an outbreak of Typhoid during the early 1950s.
  • The development of tourism in the early 1970s necessitated increase in water supply, which resulted in the establishment of borehole programs on the island to augment the two storage systems above.
  • The first major construction of borehole pump water system is the Woodland's 1 and 2, which yielded 100,000 gallons per day.
  • There was another borehole pump construction at the Chemin Valley, Calivigny. These pumping systems supplied water to the Woburn tank for distribution to the South of the island.
  • Added to the above systems, Annandale Dam and Water Treatment Plant were constructed in 1972 and commissioned in 1975 to meet the demands of the South of the island.

Carriacou & Petit Martinique

  • In the early 1950s the English built two (2) wind mills in Hillsborough to pump water to several storage water catchment cisterns.
  • There was a main cistern at Top Hill where villagers would catch their water.
  • Over time the wind mills were destroyed by natural disasters and electrical pumps were installed.
  • The water supply is now pumped through one (1) borehole at Beausejour to serve Guest Houses, Hotels, utilities and some residents.

Sewerage

  • Public sewer system was concentrated in the town of St. George and, it was the responsibility of Government to dispose of sewer. CWC was responsible to do repair works.
  • Today NAWASA is now responsible for construction and maintenance of the public sewer system. Sewer systems remains concentrated in the town of St. George and in the south of the island.
  • The responsibility for Sewerage commenced in the latter part of 1930s and commissioned in early 1940s.

Technology

  • Vehicles were used to carry men to work sites.
  • The pick axe was a main tool used to cut trenches for pipe laying until early 1990s.
  • There was a transition of cash registers to computers in the early 1990s.

Administration

  • Telephone was always available.
  • Payment of bills was done on a fortnightly basis and, it was calculated based on the rental value of one's property.
  • District Revenue offices collected water rates for CWC.

General Managers

  • Christopher Husbands - 2008 to Present
  • Damian Shillingford - 2006 – 2008
  • Michael Creft - 2004 - 2006
  • Allen Mc Guire - 1999 - 2003
  • Leroy Neckles - 1996- 1998
  • Francis Darius - 1995- 1996
  • Terrence Smith – 1993 - 1995
  • Raymond Noel - 1990- 1993
  • Denis Campbell - 1985 – 1989
  • Leroy Neckles -1980 -1984
  • Martin Pierre - 1977 - 1980
  • Raymond Noel – 1970 - 1976
  • Charles Alleyne – 1969 - 1970

Responsibilities:

Provision of water supplies and conversion, augmentation, distribution and proper use of water resources including preservation and protection of catchment areas; and Sewerage and the treatment and disposal of sewerage and other effluents.

Here's some operational data for you too...

  • 30 water supply facilities
  • 7 million gallons produced in the rainy season
  • 5 million gallons produced in the dry season
  • 43,031 consumers
  • Approximately 90% service coverage
  • 2 sewerage collection disposal systems
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