Years after installing tens of thousands of “smart meters” across the country, staff of the Barbados Water Authority will finally to able to just drive by homes and business and accurately read the meters on the go.
The final batch of codes, Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley revealed today, were received by the authority just days ago, after a “highly contentious” period of negotiation with the suppliers. This development, she said, would go a long way in protecting the revenues of the BWA.
She thanked the last chairman of the BWA, Leodene Worrell, for the “wonderful job” she did in correcting that and other major deficiencies that existed at the authority when the Barbados Labour Party assumed office in 2018. The Prime Minister said there is one other major matter on which the former chairman will continue to lead, but she will do so under the auspices of the Ministry of Economic Affairs.
The BWA, the Prime Minister added, will continue a vigorous mains replacement programme since it is still struggling with significant leakage from pipes that are in many instances between 110 and 130 years old.
It will also complete the Vineyard Water Augmentation project before the end of the year, pushing enough water to the east of the island to eliminate the longstanding shortages in St. Joseph and St. John.