Minister Cornelius De Weever, responsible for production and distribution of water received on Friday last the good news from Air-Fin / Seven Seas Water, that construction and testing of the new Reverse Osmosis Water Production Plant in Pointe Blanche was completed. As of March 10, 2014 the Plant will be producing drinking water at full capacity the day that Minister De Weever has three years in office.
"Today is a historic day for me as it marks my three years in office as minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor. The timing of this major accomplishment could not have been planned any better. The vision and provisions already built and included for the second plant symbolizes the joint effort and labor involved in this project to avoid the water shortage that our country encountered before. This vision illustrates the need to set priorities in government and accomplish them in a timely manner.
I am eternally grateful for each person for their contribution," said Minister De Weever.
Minister De Weever further stated that it is all about putting people first with this ministry.
Sint Maarten is making an important step forward with the Pointe Blanche improvements in the water supply infrastructure with the commissioning of the new seawater intake, the new reverse osmosis drinking water plant, the drinking water pump station and the new storage tank in Pointe Blanche, all situated at a very strategic location, and this is only the first phase.
A second phase is included in the addendum to the Water Supply Agreement with Seven Seas Water, signed by Minister De Weever in 2012 after successfully completing negotiations. The construction of a second new reverse osmosis unit, also of 3700 m3 per day, will start this year and is projected in the same Yellow Building in which the first plant is built.
Over the last two months, Seven Seas Water, GEBE have worked intensively on the completion of the technical installations, GEBE on the installations to provide electrical power and the hydraulic installations to take in the water produced and Seven Seas Water on the seawater intake station and the reverse osmosis production plant.
With flushing, tweaking, chlorinating, testing of the water quality and other start up procedures completed, Seven Seas Water is ready to take the plant into a twenty four hour and seven days operation mode, producing 3700 m3 per day. To compare: One typical household consumes 0.5 m3 (cubic meter) per day.
GEBE receives the produced drinking water from Seven Seas Water and transports it via a new water line to the Point Blanche storage tank (3000 m3), built last year at an elevation of 60 meters above the new RO-production plant. From this reservoir, GEBE will distribute drinking water through its network to consumers.
The new plant will increase the guaranteed capacity (supply) with 26% and safeguards compliance with the present consumption. The new plant also makes it possible to take other units in Cay Bay and Cupecoy out of service for necessary maintenance. With the new production capacity, all tanks can be kept continuously at around one hundred percent full, therefore further increasing reliability in supply to consumers.
The construction of the second tank in Pointe Blanche has already started; contractor ERP is executing excavation and foundation work. The two Pointe Blanche storage tanks are delivered and built, as part of the scope of supply of the Water Supply Agreement, between Government and Seven Seas Water.
The official inauguration of the new water plant is projected later in March this year. This week the completion will be celebrated at site with all entities that have contributed to the actual construction.
Congratulations, sincere appreciation goes out to Seven Seas Water, GEBE, their staff, contractors MNO, ERP, sub-contractors, suppliers and all persons who have contributed in one or another. A special word of appreciation goes out to the Managing Directors of Seven Seas Water, Mr. Franklyn Richards and the Chief Operations Officer of GEBE Mr. Romelio Maduro.