Nassau, Bahamas – The Water and Sewerage Corporation (WSC) wishes to provide the following operational updates to our valued customers and all residents of The Bahamas following the passage of Hurricane Irma.

1. New Providence (NP)

Normal, pre-Hurricane Irma, water and sewerage operations have been fully restored.

2. Family Islands (FIs)

WSC Assessment Teams visited the islands of Acklins, Crooked Island, Inagua, Mayaguana and Ragged Island yesterday. The updates below provide further details with respect to those islands visited yesterday and other islands impacted by the passage of the hurricane.

A. ACKLINS – An electrical support team and a 60KW portable generator are being deployed to provide emergency power supply to our Snug Corner and Salina Point Desalination Plants and to utilize an existing on island generator to power the Chesters/Lovely Bay wellfield and distribution system. In the interim, WSC is operating in conservation mode, with reduced water pressure being provided to all communities via gravity feed supply.

B. BIMINI – Our North Bimini Desalination Plant is providing water supply to North Bimini via a back-up generator until power has been fully restored to the island. Due to damage to our underwater line to South Bimini, WSC is in the process of sourcing water supplies for South Bimini from a separate water supply provider.

C. CROOKED ISLAND – Our Colonel Hill wellfield and distribution pumping system is operational and water supply was restored to the community soon after the passage of the hurricane.

D. ELEUTHERA – A 400KW portable generator arrived at our Naval Base, Desalination Plant late yesterday and is being connected today. This generator will provide emergency standby power for the desalination plant in the event of a power failure. The prior generator was substantially damaged by fire on Wednesday September 06th. This plant supplies most of Central Eleuthera.

E. INAGUA – Power supply has been restored to our Matthew Town Desalination Plant but due to ongoing challenges, WSC will be deploying an electrical support team and a 300KW portable generator to provide emergency standby power supply if needed. The distribution pumping system is operational and water supply has been restored to the community as of this morning.

F. LONG CAY – A visit is planned once weather conditions improve to allow for boat transport to the island from Crooked Island. All reports are that all residents of the island were evacuated prior to the passage of the hurricane.

G. MAYAGUANA – Normal power supply is expected to be restored very shortly to both our Abraham’s Bay and Pirates Well/Betsy Bay Desalination Plants. In the interim, WSC is operating in conservation mode, with reduced water pressure being provided to both communities via gravity feed.

H. RAGGED ISLAND – Our Duncan Town Desalination Plant including the storage tanks and distribution pumping system suffered substantial damage as a result of the hurricane. WSC will coordinate its restoration plans in conjunction with the Government’s announced plans for the evacuation of the remainder of the island’s residents and an organized reconstruction programme.

With the exception of Ragged Island and our Bimini underwater line, there was no substantial damage to WSC’s facilities on any other Family Island.

Normal, pre-Hurricane Irma, operations have been restored to all other islands.

3. Commercial and Administrative Operations

All WSC offices in NP and the FIs with the exception of those in the MICAL District and Bimini opened yesterday morning at the usual time for normal business.

Residents are asked to promptly report any damage to any WSC water or sewerage system to our Emergency Command Center at 302-5599 or 325-0505. All customers, particularly those in the FIs are asked to continue to conserve water at this time.

We continue to extend our prayers and thoughts for the safety and wellbeing of all residents and visitors to our shores as we work together as a nation to rebuild.