Water thieves cause major shortages

Port-of-Spain: Several parts of South and Central Trinidad are experiencing water problems as the Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA) says an emergency situation has arisen that is currently affecting the water supply to customers.

WASA says it was discovered that scrap iron and metal thieves removed an 8-inch air valve, from directly off the 54-inch Caroni South transmission main, resulting in major water loss.

The authority says the system has been isolated, to stop the further loss of millions of gallons of water, as well as to effect emergency repairs, which are currently underway.

WASA says the theft occurred in the vicinity of Perseverance, Chaguanas. The authority is calling upon all scrap iron and metal dealers, in the country, to desist from interfering with or stealing the utility’s pipeline infrastructure.

It says this situation is being treated with the utmost seriousness and the police have been called in to conduct an investigation, with a view to catching the perpetrators. The Authority says the repairs are estimated to be completed by 8 pm.