The Trinidadian government has launched an aggressive nationwide leak detection and repair campaign following the discovery of severe long-term water system failures in the Point Lisas Industrial Estate. Minister of Public Utilities Barry Padarath has directed the Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA) to expand its Leak Management Programme after joint investigations revealed critical infrastructure neglect.
Over the past month, WASA has collaborated with the Point Lisas Industrial Port Development Corporation (Plipdeco) to identify 15 major leaks within the industrial estate. Technical assessments confirmed that nine of these leaks directly impact high-demand petrochemical, ammonia, methanol, steel, and gas-processing facilities. Astonishingly, some leaks have persisted for up to six years due to underground congestion and access challenges.
The cumulative effect of these failures has resulted in an estimated loss of six million imperial gallons of treated water daily—representing hundreds of millions of dollars in wasted resources. Meanwhile, communities across Central and South Trinidad have endured persistent low water pressure and rotation schedules despite this massive water loss.
Minister Padarath expressed grave concern that numerous leaks were initially reported to WASA as early as 2020 but remained unaddressed by the previous administration under the PNM government. “While citizens were asked to accept water shortages, known leaks of national significance were ignored for years,” Padarath stated. “This government has the political will to confront inherited failures, no matter how complex.”
Repair operations are currently underway for five major leaks, with work being strategically sequenced to navigate underground hazards including high-pressure gas pipelines, hydrogen and carbon dioxide manifolds, high-voltage electrical circuits, and telecommunications infrastructure. The most challenging leaks require complete shutdowns and extensive excavation, particularly one at Brechin Castle where preliminary investigations continue.
The ministry expects all repairs to be completed by the end of January. Additionally, Padarath announced through his Facebook page that WASA has established four tank farms in Penal with a combined storage capacity of 80,000 gallons, providing short to medium-term relief to the region’s water shortages.
Padarath emphasized that “leak management is part of the multi-dimensional approach to achieving our Water for All mandate. This is what responsible governance looks like: confronting inherited failures, fixing what was ignored, and putting water back where it belongs in the taps of the people of Trinidad and Tobago.”