T&T LAUNCHES WATER AND WASTEWATER MASTER PLAN

UNCLAS PORT OF SPAIN 000495 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR EEB/CBA AND WHA/CAR USDOC/ITA/MAC/LATIN AMERICA CARIBBEAN SANTO DOMINGO FOR COMMERCIAL SERVICE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: BTIO BEXP EIND SENV ECON TD SUBJECT: T&T LAUNCHES WATER AND WASTEWATER MASTER PLAN ¶1. SUMMARY: Trinidad and Tobago is embarking on an eight-year, US$4.4 billion upgrade of its water and wastewater treatment infrastructure. While the initial consulting contract went to Canadian firm GENIVAR, the overall program offers significant commercial opportunities for U.S. firms. END SUMMARY. ¶2. On May 4 the Government of Trinidad and Tobago (GOTT) officially celebrated their agreement with Canadian engineering and consulting firm GENIVAR to develop Trinidad and Tobago's Water and Wastewater Master Plan, providing for the "comprehensive rehabilitation, reconstruction and extension of the country's water and wastewater infrastructure." During the course of GENIVAR's US$6.93 million, 18-month contract with GOTT, they will work with the Water and Sewage Authority (WASA) to provide a framework anticipating T&T's development to 2035. GOTT is projecting a total budget of TT$27 billion (US$4.4 billion) through 2015 to implement this Master Plan. ¶3. Current drought conditions only accentuate shortcomings in T&T's water and wastewater system, which the GOTT's Vision 2020 Sub Committee for Public Utilities identified in their benchmark review for developed country status while developing the National Strategic Plan. According to this study, only 30 percent of T&T's population is connected to the central sewerage system, compared with 95 percent in developed countries. T&T experiences five pipe breaks per kilometer per year while developed countries experience less than one. "Unaccounted for Water" (an indicator of water service quality) is around 50 percent while 12 to 18 percent is the developed country norm. Meanwhile, T&T experiences an average of only 10.6 hours of water service per day. ¶4. These shortcomings spurred GOTT to find a "permanent" solution to the water and wastewater sector problems by developing a Water and Wastewater Master Plan with the assistance of GENIVAR. At the same time, the GOTT is enacting several contingency plans to address current water problems, including the National Social Development Programme from 2002, and the TT$1.2 billion (US$ 193 million) Water Sector Modernization Programme. The first program is aimed at providing basic water and electrical services to vulnerable communities (i.e. communities with less than 48 hours of water weekly). Since 2002, the GOTT has spent over US$80 million to build or refurbish pipelines, booster stations and wells serving 150,000 Trinbagonians. The second program is intended to address immediate needs and serve as the foundation for the Master Plan. ¶5. COMMENT: As T&T aspires to become a regional hub and join the ranks of developed nations, the GOTT is taking advantage of T&T's economic boom to invest in new infrastructure and other construction projects. Foreign firms, especially Chinese and French firms, have won many past contracts as demand for expertise and labor outstrips local capacity, but U.S. companies are also in a position to take advantage of these opportunities. Post will continue to send tender and bid invitations to interested U.S. commercial contacts and stands ready to assist any U.S. businesses. END COMMENT. AUSTIN