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The main Grand Turk reverse osmosis plant has been repaired and is now reported to be working normally following testing on Thursday.

Producing 140 gallons of water per minute, some 250,000 gallons per day, this plant is currently filling a 100,000 gallon storage tank which is requires a minimum level to ensure adequate water pressure and to operate efficiently.

Water supplies will again be available from the South Issue Point from Friday morning, with sufficient pressure and supply to be reconnected to the mains early next week.

Parts have arrived for a second reverse osmosis plant capable of producing an additional 75,000 gallons per day and this should also be repaired and out back on line early next week.

Finally, parts will arrive for the third plant capable of producing 150,000 gallons per day on 18 June. This machinery will be repaired and put back on line as soon as possible.

“I would like to apologise for the continued disruption to residents’ water supplies,” said Patrick Boyle, chief executive, TCI government. “The government has set aside $1.3 million to replace this out of date machinery later in 2012, following years of neglect and a distinct lack of investment. That these three ancient machines have broken down at the same time is extremely unfortunate.

“Water engineer Zaheer Mohamed and his colleagues deserve our special thanks for working around the clock to identify problems, solve them and keeping this obsolete machinery going.”

The Water Undertaking has requested that people continue to try and conserve water in order to help supplies return to normal as soon as possible by:

1. Checking for water leaks in their plumbing system.
2. Only using washing machines for full loads.
3. Using dishwasher if possible as they use less water than hand washing.
4. Not running the tap while wet shaving; rinsing the razor in the sink.
5. Using salt water flush if accessible.
6. When brushing not to leave the water running, you would waste about 3 gallons in 90 seconds.
7. If you put one litre bottle of water in your toilette tank it saves 2 pints of water per flush.
8. Not washing vehicles.
9. Turning off the shower while soaping your skin.

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