Officials at the Central Water and Sewerage Authority (CWSA) say that the water utility company is considering alternative sources of fresh water.
Presently, the CWSA’s water systems are fed by surface water run-off.
But with periods of hot and dry weather predicted, the company said that it will be exploring parts of the country for the availability of ground water.
Winsbert Quow, General Manager of CWSA said during a press briefing on May 14 that the company was presently looking to construct the first solar powered groundwater extraction system at Overland.
This is being facilitated under the Volcanic Eruption Emergency Project, Quow said.
This groundwater extraction system was expected to cater for the communities of Overland, Sandy Bay and Owia.
Quow explained that the vulnerability of the water supply sources, which rely on run-off from the slopes of La Soufriere, became evident during the eruptions in 2021.
“We are looking to do groundwater exploration in the Marriaqua Valley and in the Vermont Valley so that we can have the same thing, which is to install a groundwater extraction system to augment the Dalaway supply system and the Montreal supply system,” Quow explained.
Engineer Marco Audain further explained that there was a non-invasive technology that the CWSA was trying to do some exploration.
“We are hoping to see what is available underground in those two valleys,” Audain said.
The process has already started he added, with the training of staff including the water resource unit.
At the end of the exploration process, Audain said that it was anticipated that they would be able to get a proper synopsis of the two valleys and what is available underground.