The Ministry of Communication and Works is working vigorously to restore water service to interrupted areas in the Territory, in particular Virgin Gorda and Sea Cows Bay.

On Sunday, October 4, the Water and Sewerage Department made an urgent decision to have the water distribution network undergo a chlorination flush due to the poor water quality being produced. This procedure, which aids in cleaning water lines of bacteria and residue, was executed today, October 5, at 5:00 a.m.

The flushing period is now complete; however some water plants are still nonoperational.  Final testing for the Virgin Gorda water plant is also complete and production of water to the reservoirs commenced at 12:00 noon. Residents should expect water service to return at 4:00 p.m.

Sea Cows Bay water plant is still going through final water quality testing and is anticipated to produce water to reservoirs around 3:00 p.m.

Director for the Water and Sewerage Department, Mrs. Perline Scatliffe-Leonard, stated that 275,000 gallons of clean water is being trucked to Virgin Gorda to fill reservoirs in the interim of plants being temporarily out of operation.

She added that for Sea Cows Bay, water from the Fort Hill Reservoir has been extended to Palestina to provide relief.

The public is being made aware that due to the unique nature of the recent event, a timely notice was not issued and for this the Ministry apologises for any inconvenience caused.

The Water and Sewerage Department will be scheduling other routine flushing for the remainder of the Territory as part of their water quality improvement procedure and will publish schedules in advance.

All remaining annual flushing should be completed by the end of October, completing this year’s annual chlorine flush.

As the Ministry of Communications and Works continues to develop the water distribution networks, it thanks the public for their unwavering patience as it works to provide quality service for its people.