Consultations have already taken place in Tobago and Santa Cruz on the new water treatment plants in both communities.
WASA says its representatives plan to return for follow up meetings in each of the related communities to announce the projects’ commencement and to introduce residents to community liaison personnel who will be the points of contact for any grievances or issues which may arise during the life of the projects.
The projects are being funded from a US$80 million IDB loan that was sought by the Government of Trinidad and Tobago to boost the efficiency, quality, sustainability, and resilience of the country’s drinking water supply and water security.
The funds are part of a US$315 million conditional credit line for Trinidad and Tobago’s National Water Sector Transformation Program, and this initial phase of the operation includes funding for institutional strengthening and capacity building to help the Ministry of Public Utilities and WASA improve governance and the sustainable management of its water resources.
WASA’s services will be upgraded through network rehabilitation and optimization, organizational development and capacity building, integrated water resources management, climate change and natural disaster risk management, and by leveraging the IDB’s experience in water loss reduction projects.
The first loan operation is to be disbursed over the course of four years, with a 25-year repayment term, and a 5.5-year grace period.