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| More water for Talparo as PM Kamla Persad-Bissessar turns on the tap |
The current arrears owed by residential customers is $356 million.
This information was revealed Saturday by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar in an address at the commissioning of the Talparo Portable Water Treatment Plant. About 2200 people benefit directly from the new plant, which has been in opertion for several monts.
Persad-Bissessar said WASA has committed to supplying the population on a 24 hour, five days per week basis with water by the end of fiscal year 2012-2013.
This, she said, would far outstrip the present average of 24 hours for two days per week which would be a 150 per cent improvement in the water supply.
The Prime Minister said taxpayers fund WASA's operations to the tune of $1.2 billion annually, which makes up the deficit between the revenue earned by WASA and its expenditure.
"If you work out the arithmetic you will find that WASA earns approximately $561 million per year but its expenditure reaches over $1.7 billion. There are also high account receivables/non paying customers at $506million - of which $356million is owed by residential customers," she said.
persad-Bissessar served notice that her government will not continue with that level of subvention, noting that WASA has taken the responsibility to become a viable entity over a relatively short period of time.
The Prime Minister said taxpayers fund WASA's operations to the tune of $1.2 billion annually, which makes up the deficit between the revenue earned by WASA and its expenditure.
"If you work out the arithmetic you will find that WASA earns approximately $561 million per year but its expenditure reaches over $1.7 billion. There are also high account receivables/non paying customers at $506million - of which $356million is owed by residential customers," she said.
persad-Bissessar served notice that her government will not continue with that level of subvention, noting that WASA has taken the responsibility to become a viable entity over a relatively short period of time.
"The projection by the Authority is to turn the present billion dollar deficit into a 5 per cent surplus on its operations by 2016.
"That is a serious target that the Commissioners, the CEO, the senior management and the entire staff of the Authority have taken the responsibility for. You can be sure that the Minister of Public Utilities and the Government will demand that they achieve it by the stipulated time frame," she said.
She explained some oif the strategies that the authority will use.
She explained some oif the strategies that the authority will use.
"One method is the plan for universal metering of the water supplied by the utility to customers. Among other things, metering will make customers sharply aware of the need to conserve water.
"Consumers connected to the meters will know that there will be a direct connection between the quantity of water consumed, and that wasted, and the size of their bills," she said.
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