Construction Impact on Water Supply

ZIZ NEWS, 13th June 2013–A senior water official says the construction of a road and roundabout at the Kim Collins Highway would not affect the water supply to the Basseterre area.

The construction takes place in a protected area called “Basseterre Valley” which is directly above an underground water source, or an aquifer.

Assistant water engineer, Dr Halla Sahely says there is virtually no risk of contamination of the aquifer below but she is concerned about drainage from the construction site.

40 percent of the water supply for Basseterre comes from the aquifer under the Basseterre Valley.

Sahely says any water that is pumped from the aquifer is taken from about a hundred feet below the surface so any construction going on above ground wouldn’t affect the water supply below.