The Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA) will be cracking down on customers with illegal connections, unregistered swimming pools or VAT registered businesses classified as homeowners.
The warning came from WASA chairman Romney Thomas as the amnesty extended to those customers to become regularised ended last month.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony of the $74 million South Oropouche to La Brea Pipeline Project at the Union Industrial Estate in La Brea, Thomas noted that WASA depends on government subsidies in the sum of almost $2 billion, in order to maintain its operations.
Additionally, he said water rates in T&T are amongst the lowest in the hemisphere.
“This is why the Authority has been taking different steps to encourage delinquent customers to pursue the path of payment. An amnesty programme that allowed persons with illegal connections, unregistered swimming pools, or VAT registered business classified as residential customers, to come in and regularise their status, came to an end on February 28. And now the Authority will be taking steps to crack down on persons who have not availed themselves of the opportunity provided under the amnesty.”
Thomas said the measures are being taken with the intent of improving the viability of the Authority’s operations, to encourage customers to pay their bills on time.
Again urging people to conserve water in the harsh season, Thomas said the recent rainfall had no discernible impact on the reservoir levels and the country’s water supply situation continues to require prudent management on all sides. He reminded the population that the water use restrictions imposed on January 28 that bans the use of hoses, sprinklers, pressure washers and similar apparatus, remains in effect.
He said the project, which was completed within budget and within time, entailed the installation of 15.6 kilometres of 600 metres diameter pipe from South Oropouche to La Brea.
La Brea MP Nicole Olivierre said the new pipeline now frees up water from the Point Fortin desalination plant which can be transmitted to communities which experience severe water issues.
She too encouraged citizens to respect, value and conserve water.