The Territory’s water crisis has no simple fix, with procurement challenges and persistent power outages further complicating water production, Deputy Premier and Third District Representative Julian Fraser has said.
Speaking recently in the House of Assembly, Fraser said he met with Minister for Communications and Works Kye Rymer last Wednesday to discuss the Territory-wide water problems.
“There are some difficulties that keep popping up. The Jost Van Dyke situation is one, and it’s being compounded, Mr. Speaker, with the issues that we have,” Fraser stated.
He explained that electricity outages directly affect the water supply.
“When the generators go down, for whatever reason, it impacts upon the water plants’ water production capabilities,” Fraser said.
Residents of the Third District are also facing water shortages, prompting Fraser to promise that efforts are being made to restore a reliable supply.
“It’s not as easy as it may sound.” He said some persons may believe that because, “the ocean is right there, I guess for some people, all you have to do is convert that ocean water to potable water. But no, it's not that simple,” he said, adding that government procurement requirements make the process “a little complicated”.
Fraser recalled that while serving as Communications and Works Minister in 2003, water service in the district was changed to a 24-hour supply. He said this continued until 2013, when the plant was decommissioned.
However, Fraser’s record on water later became overshadowed by the controversial BiWater agreement, signed in 2010 while he was Communications and Works Minister, which committed the Government to a 16-year water-purchase arrangement for a new desalination plant.
“We are looking at making sure that the people of the Third District get water 24/7,” Fraser said last week.
He added that the Government intends to address the water problems throughout the Territory rather than focusing on one community.
Speaking recently in the House of Assembly, Fraser said he met with Minister for Communications and Works Kye Rymer last Wednesday to discuss the Territory-wide water problems.
“There are some difficulties that keep popping up. The Jost Van Dyke situation is one, and it’s being compounded, Mr. Speaker, with the issues that we have,” Fraser stated.
He explained that electricity outages directly affect the water supply.
“When the generators go down, for whatever reason, it impacts upon the water plants’ water production capabilities,” Fraser said.
Residents of the Third District are also facing water shortages, prompting Fraser to promise that efforts are being made to restore a reliable supply.
“It’s not as easy as it may sound.” He said some persons may believe that because, “the ocean is right there, I guess for some people, all you have to do is convert that ocean water to potable water. But no, it's not that simple,” he said, adding that government procurement requirements make the process “a little complicated”.
Fraser recalled that while serving as Communications and Works Minister in 2003, water service in the district was changed to a 24-hour supply. He said this continued until 2013, when the plant was decommissioned.
However, Fraser’s record on water later became overshadowed by the controversial BiWater agreement, signed in 2010 while he was Communications and Works Minister, which committed the Government to a 16-year water-purchase arrangement for a new desalination plant.
“We are looking at making sure that the people of the Third District get water 24/7,” Fraser said last week.
He added that the Government intends to address the water problems throughout the Territory rather than focusing on one community.
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