Minister Van Nieuwenhuizen turns on water pumping station

Dutch Minister of Infrastructure and Water Management Cora van Nieuwenhuizen on Monday, May 6, officially put the pumping station and water storage next to Lollipop’s near St. John’s into use.

With the turn of the switch, Minister Van Nieuwenhuizen, in the presence of Commissioner Bruce Zagers initiated the pumping of water from St. John’s to Windwardside.

The pumping house and water storage are part of a larger, complex project to connect The Bottom, St. John’s, Windwardside and Hell’s Gate to a new waterpipe system, which starts at the Fort Bay Harbor. Still to be constructed is the pipeline to Hell’s Gate and the required pump station. This project has been financed by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management (I&W).

It is a very positive project with multiple benefits for Saba, said Minister Van Nieuwenhuizen. “It is good to see the hard work being done to secure sufficient and affordable potable water for the Saba residents. I have great appreciation for the people who are realizing this project,” she said.

The waterpipe project has already resulted in a much lower price that the consumer pays for water. The water bottling plant which is being constructed in St. John’s, will further bring down the price when drinking water will be bottled locally instead of importing water in bottles.

“It doesn’t only save the people money. It is also more convenient. This is tangible improvement compared to a few years ago when a navy ship had to bring water in the dry months,” said the minister about the water projects. Commissioner Zagers concurred. “This project is good for people’s pockets and for Saba’s general development.”

The waterpipe project is slated to be completed by the end of this year. Management and maintenance of the pipe system will be carried out locally. The construction works are being carried out by a local contractor, Saba Roads, executed with the assistance and advice of Vitens Evides International.

GIS Saba.