The Water and Sewage Company (WASCO) has enlisted the help of the German International Development Agency (GIZ), to provide practical support to Saint Lucia to reduce water loss and improve efficiency.

WASCO Strategic Planning Officer, John Sealy, says the company is plagued by substantial losses in non revenue water, which accounts for 56%.

“According to reports, we are unable to account for 56% of the water entering our system,” he said. “It means you don’t get billed for all of the water which enters your system and we in turn do not get revenue from it. Anything that is not billed is literally going to waste. It is termed non revenue water.”

This is not a situation particular to Saint Lucia. Water utility companies worldwide strive to reduce the gap between the volume of water they supply and that which is billed to consumers. Non-Revenue Water (NRW) constitutes between 25 and 50 percent of the total water distributed globally.

GIZ Program Head Dr. Hortz Michael Vogel said the agency will assist WASCO in meeting its challenges, having assisted with other national initiatives.

“Our cooperation with WASCO began in the area of continuous sediment management at the John Compton Dam in Roseau. The collaboration continued with other institutions like the Ministry of Finance on the rehabilitation of the Saint Jude Hospital in Vieux-Fort, and the redevelopment of the water supply in Vieux-Fort and Dennery,” Dr Vogel said.

He added that the steps they have taken to improve the operations and service delivery of the Water and Sewage Company (WASCO) are progressing steadily.

The alliance between WASCO and GIZ endeavours to significantly lower water losses resulting in the economic viability and sustainability of WASCO.

Further information on water losses can be obtained at www. waterlossreduction.com.