Precautionary Measures for Hurricane Beryl
Keithroy Halliday, General Manager of the Barbados Water Authority (BWA), has addressed the public regarding the decision to shut down the island-wide water system at 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, ahead of the approach of Category Four Hurricane Beryl. This decision, which faced significant public criticism due to the short notice, was a precautionary measure to protect critical infrastructure.
Apology for Late Notification
Halliday began by apologizing for the late notification, acknowledging the public’s concerns. He emphasized the importance of the shutdown in safeguarding the BWA’s assets, including pumping stations and electrical components, from potential storm damage.
“It’s crucial to explain what transpired. Firstly, I apologize for the late notice about the shutdown of our pumping systems. This was regrettable, and I extend my apologies on behalf of the Barbados Water Authority. Whenever a severe system threatens Barbados, we take extensive measures to protect our assets,” Halliday stated.
Manual Shutdown Process
He noted that the BWA’s shutdown process takes over three hours, requiring manual deactivation of breakers at every system and station. Despite having surge protectors and other protective mechanisms, manual shutdown has proven to be the most effective method.
“From past experiences, we’ve learned the importance of these precautions. During Hurricane Elsa, and now with Hurricane Beryl, we realized that failing to take these steps results in significant equipment and pump losses. Resuming operations afterward can take weeks or months, impacting our ability to restore full service promptly,” Halliday explained.
High Cost and Replacement Challenges
He highlighted the high cost and replacement challenges of the pumps, which are not easily replaceable even with spares on hand. Therefore, the precautionary shutdown aims to ensure system integrity and quick recovery post-storm.
Phased Shutdown for Public Preparation
The shutdown was executed in phases to allow residents to prepare, despite the short notice. Halliday reassured the public that there was still water available in the mains and reservoirs, although some areas experienced low pressure and temporary outages due to increased immediate demand.
“In some areas, we experienced low pressure and a few complaints of outages, which we addressed by slightly delaying the shutdown to replenish the systems better,” he added.