AmbergrisCaye.com Home Forums The Cayes Environment Lack of Water....

In a local paper on June 14, 2007 it was noted that they were going to update equipment to bring their daily volume up to 700,000 US gallons/day. Did that ever take place? Their contract ensures that the capacity of the plant will keep pace with the growing demands of Ambergris Caye and that a sufficient supply of high quality drinking water will not be a factor limiting growth of the island. Are they really changing the R.O. membranes weekly? Do they not have a system that allows them to clean them in place? (C.I.P.)

Is San Pedro's water problem resolved?

For the past two months San Pedro Town has been having significant water problems. While the crisis was pronounced in the week leading into the Easter break and over that long weekend, it has been somewhat alleviated but not resolved. In fact, while the company in charge of supplying tap water to the island is trying to avert a similar crisis, there is no guarantee that the number one tourist destination will not be plunged into a similar situation. Marion Ali has an update.

Marion Ali, Reporting

A water shortage has been affecting La Isla Bonita since Easter. When we visited the island last Friday, Belize Water Services' officials told News Five that restoring full portable water could take many months. The problem is that the membranes that Consolidated Water uses to pump and treat the water before supplying it to BWS, have consistently been clogging due to sedimentation. Consolidated Water has had to do frequent cleaning and servicing of its membranes to avoid the problem from escalating out of control. Meanwhile, BWS is exploring the possibility of coming up with a contingency plan if Consolidated Water experiences a similar crisis and can't supply treated water to meet the demands of the island. Last Thursday BWS started to conduct twenty-four hour tests of its four salt water wells that were installed ten years ago under the previous Cascal Company. These tests will determine if the water quality in BWS' wells is better than the quality from Consolidated Water. If that is the case, BWS has a small plant in Belize City which it can turn to in order to help with water supply. The company has asked the Department of the Environment, the Ministry of Health and the Hydrology Unit to do further testing to definitively determine what is causing the frequent clogging. Those results are due in two weeks time. All be told, it appears that the problem will take some time before it can be permanently cleared up. Marion Ali for News Five.

Amid much rumor, speculation, guessing and hypothesis, it is always helpful to get the as many of the facts as possible. Many people have wondered whether there is a single membrane, a couple of membranes, do they get flushed out with a garden hose, etc.

Consolidated Water (CW) has 144 membranes in their RO production system, that filter particulate to the size of 5 microns. The filters are stationed in two separate banks of tubes, with 6 membranes per tube, and 12 tubes in each section - an "A" section and a "C" section. The membranes are cleaned with chemicals, and this is done on a regularly scheduled basis, with separate "tubes" containing 6 membranes each, being taken out of circulation to be cleaned at any one time.

CW has a contract in place with BWS, whereby CW is required to produce 250,000 gallons of water daily, and BWS is contractually obligated to purchase 250,000 gallons of water daily. That is not nearly enough for the needs of an ever-growing island population, and at present Consolidated Water is producing in excess of 420,000 to 440,000 gallons of water daily. The current contract allows for BWS to purchase this additional water, but they are under no obligation to do so, and there is no protection for CW that the water will or will not be purchased.

Water consumption over the Easter Holidays was in excess of 470,000 gallons per day, which is well in excess of the plant capacity that was built for a 250,000 daily production commitment. Since the membranes are cleaned in rotation, it also means that the plant is not designed to be operated with all 144 membranes being used at any one time. A portion of the tubes and membranes are being cleaned on a weekly basis in rotation.

CW has made clear to BWS that what is required is for BWS to acknowledge that capacity in excess of 400,000 gallons daily is an absolute requirement for the needs of the town as evidenced by the demand and consumption currently taking place. BWS needs to step up to the plate and contractually commit to the purchase of the higher amount of water. CW cannot go to their shareholders to commit to building a higher production RO plant for San Pedro to meet the needs of the island - which they are fully prepared to do - unless, and until, they have a new or revised contract that shows that BWS will commit to the purchase of the higher amount of water. With a contract commitment to purchase a higher daily base # of gallons, CW can commit to build a new RO facility to meet whatever commitment that may be. CW operates 14 RO desalination plants of varying capacities in 5 countires: Cayman Island, Bahamas, British Virgin Island, Bermuda,and Barbados.

They can ramp up production to 10 million gallons a day as they have done in the Bahamas, of 1.2 million gallons per day as they produce in Bermuda - so production capacity is not the issue. A contractual commitment to purchase what they can produce is the answer to the problem.

One thing must be clear however, CW is producing well in excess of what their contract calls for and if they decided to only fulfill what BWS has committed to purchase (250K gal./day), it would be nowhere near the amount that is being used on a daily basis by our town (400K+ gal./day).

Since CW operates plants of much higher capacity, and can scale up to more than sufficient capacity for our islands current and growing population, production capability is absolutely, positively not the issue. New wells can be drilled (and should be, as 45-48' wells are inadequate depth, far too shallow, and not what was approved by DOE in years past), and a new higher production RO plant can be built. CW would have no problem doing this provided they have the commitment to purchase water at the higher daily capacity. That is the basis for how they determine the production facilities and capacity they have built in numerous other markets.

Right now, the existing RO plant was designed to meet the needs of its current contract production requirement of 250,000 gallons daily. San Pedro is using in excess of 400,000 gallons daily and the RO system is operating at its limit. CW is prepared to invest in a higher capacity plant and they have done so throughout the Caribbean as many of the markets they serve have growing populations and require systematic upgrades in capacity.

The permanent problem is the need for BWS to commit contractually to what they are already doing - which is purchase 150,000+ gallons a day in excess of what CW is required to produce. CW is accommodating a growing capacity need for our Town, but in order to do so moving forward they need to invest in new infrastructure and it is only proper that they have a contract in place that commits to purchase the higher production they will be providing. You don't invest in new infrastructure and a new higher capacity RO plant until you have a contract in writing for the increased capacity.

gee........what is the contract? what is the usage? I'm not sure you made that clear.

Juan Grande since you "seem" to have all of the facts maybe you can explain how the meeting that was held yesterday between PUC, DOE, BWS, Consolidated, and the Ministry of health to review the water and membrane test results fit into your theory that it is a contractual issue. Next, since you were not at the press conference held by BWS you do not have all of the facts as you claim. BWS very clearly explained the "fouling" of the water in the well that consolidated draws from. Are you saying that they lied?
Also if it was a contractual issue why did we make it through years of peak months with high water usage and had no shortages. They are both in the business of making and selling water why would they not make and sell as much as they could?
I am sure in the next couple of days the "facts" are sure to come out. In the meantime you might want to read the post in this thread that is from the press conference.

Juan,
everytime you pop up I seem to have to ask the same question. But this time its for Sugar Caye, not Grand Belizean Estates.
WHY DID YOU NOT DO AN EIA. is that loud enough for you? ITS THE LAW. There seems to be a pattern here you breaking the law so you can make a fast buck filling in our wetlands.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6bk6PEz2QF8
You can make drinking water from sewage and if that is not "foul" I don't know what is.
They probably need updated equipment with proper capacity to give them time to clean membranes properly. An update that is probably overdue.
Another 2 weeks of tests...
It's painful. It might be simpler to just pump water from Caye Caulker.

+1

" with separate "tubes" containing 6 membranes each, being taken out of circulation to be cleaned at any one time. "

Why don't they have many clean replacement tubes ready to go. Take one out and put a clean one in. Don't shut it down while you clean it.

Everyone have enough water for a shower lately?....not counting the showers from the sky