Our History
NAWASA was formed with the responsibility of the production and distribution of portable water and the responsibility for the production and distribution of sewerage. However this institution involved over the years from what was locally Water Works, which was a unit in the then public works Department. In 1969 Water Works formalized into what was called the Central Water Commission (CWC) that was solely responsible for water production and distribution. In 1990 the responsibility of sewer collection and disposal, which was under the auspices of the Ministry of Health, was passed unto NAWASA. This was in keeping with global trends and the technical resources available in NAWASA to manage this activity.
What we're about
An Act of Parliament formed The National Water and Sewerage Authority NAWASA in 1990. It’s predecessors; the Central Water Commission (CWC) was limited to the production and distribution of portable. However with the formation of the National Water and Sewerage Authority NAWASA this rate was expanded to the collection, treatment and disposal of liquid sewerage. The Authority is a statutory body and as such has to finance its operation through activities for which it is responsible.
The Authority is divided into five departments:
- Administration
- Finance
- Production and Quality
- Planning Design and Construction
- Transmission and Distribution
The Authority is controlled by a Board that is responsible for due exercise and performance of the functions, powers and duties conferred and imposed on the Authority. The Board is responsible for the policy and the general public administration of the Authority.
Historical Development of the Water Sector:
A review of Major project proposal
Potable water supply in Grenada was very rudimentary and isolated up until the first major plan for water development in Grenada was prepared in 1960 by C.C Knight and R.A. Noel: “ A plan for water development in Grenada 1965-1990. This was a plan that emphasized the whole island and identified the major rivers for development and the areas to be served by the proposed treatment plants. Some of the projects that were implemented as a result of this development plan were the Annandale Treatment Plant, Peggys Whim, Douglaston and Petite Etang Treatment Plant. In 1984 the Crown Agents, acting on behalf of the British Government developed a “ Proposal for a study for St. George’s and St. John’s water supply”. This proposal included the exploitation of the Black Bay River ( Concord River) to provide water to St. George’s via fourteen-inch (14’) diameter ductile pipeline. However the cost of the proposal was considered prohibitive for a project of that scale. It is interesting to note however the reasons given for the development of the project.
The reasons were:
- Growing tourist industry
- Development of light industry
- Government policy on house, building and metering of households
- Rate of charge from public standpipes to house connections.
It is believed that with the fall of the Marxist/Leninist Government in October 1983, and the reestablishment of the Democratic process, the economic and political environment would have bee created for greater investment and an improvement in the social status of the population. In August of 1987, Leo De Waal A UN Associated Expert completed a proposal titled “ Grenada Water Supply Sector Development plan 1987-1997”. However this proposal was not official approved by the Government at the time of submission. In 1995 however, the French Government found a study for the southern St. George’s and St. David’s area. The study was undertaken by OTH, A French Consulting Firm. This study focused on the following elements of water supply.
The study focused on the following elements of water supply.
- Unaccounted for water (UFW)
- Metering
- Leak Detection and repair
Metering of all water connection, a direct result of this study was the introduction of the policy of island wide metering and the start of the implementation in 1995. In 2001, the northern water supply study was completed by a British Consulting Firm STANTEC, but although major project proposal have been developed, the cost of the implementation is beyond NAWASA’s ability to undertake presently. The sewer system in Grenada, before 1991 existed only in the town of St. George. This system was started in 1939 and was commissioned in 1940 by Howard Humphrey’s a British Consulting Firm. In 1991 the Grand Anse Sewer project was started and completed in 1993. This was a result of concerns to be raised, as evidence of increasing pollution of the seawater quality at the Grand Anse Beach would damage the tourist industry. In 1999, the development of the sewer marker plan was completed. However the projects identified have yet to be implemented.
Services provided by NAWASA
The National Water and Sewerage Authority NAWASA is responsible for:
- Production and Distribution of portable water
- Collection, Treatment and Disposal of liquid sewerage
- Provide credit facilities for water connection and credit arrangements for water and sewerage charges.
NAWASA'S Board of Directors
It consists of the:
- Chairman and Deputy chairman both nominated by the Minister of Public Utilities,
- Four directors nominated separately by; the Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Works, Ministry of Finance
- One Director nominated by the Private Sector Organization of Grenada
- Two Directors nominated by the Minister of Public Utilities to represent the general public.
All Directors are appointed by the Cabinet. The current Directors are:
- Mr. Michael Pierre: Chairman
- Mr. Phillip Gittens- Deputy Chairman
- Mr. Curlan Gilchrist
- Ms. Cheryl Williams
- Mr. Azam Rahaman
- Mr. Cosnel Mc Intosh
- Mr. Cecil Winsborrow
- Mr. Andre Worme
- Mr. Evelyn Frederick