Grenada Today - The National Newspaper of Grenada, Carriacou & Petite Martinique

A Mt. Parnassus resident is unhappy with a bill he received from the National Water and Sewerage Authority (NAWASA) for the use of their services to carry drinking water to his home.

Dexter Forrester walked into the office of GRENADA TODAY Monday to complain that he received a bill for $500.00 from the company for the transportation of 8000 gallons of water to his home at Mt. Parnassus. "How can the cost of bringing the water be more than the water itself"?
"I am not supposed to pay to bring water that should be the responsibility of NAWASA" an angry Forrester stated.

The Mt. Parnassus resident pointed out that he is prepared to pay for the water which cost $120.00 but is adamant that he should not be charged this amount for transportation. Forrester spoke of experiencing difficulty in getting water since the passage of hurricane Ivan on September 7 which he claimed had done damages to the lines in that area.

He said since that time, he has been collecting rain water for consumption but that with the limited rain fall over the last fiew days he had no choice but to seek another source of supply. "If ah have to purchase water at this cost I won't have money for the rest of the year" Forrester pointed out. He is also peeved with the slow response by NAWASA following his request to have water brought to his home.

"You have to beg them to bring the water to you and then they still come giving you a bill when the transportation cost more than the water" an angry Forrester quipped. Deputy Finance Manager Kelvin George told GRENADA TODAY that persons without a connection are required to pay transportation cost as well as for the water supplied by NAWASA.

He said consumers with connections however who are also experiencing difficulty in their supplies will only be charged for the water since the Authority will subsidise the transportation cost. George admitted that there is no standard charge at the moment for the transportation of water but that the Authority is in the process of finalising a cost that will be used for the different parishes and villages based on the location of the consumers.

According to the Deputy Finance Manager, the Authority is in the process of revisiting its transportation arrangement as it relates to its supply of water following the passage of hurricane Ivan on September 7.
George said that after the hurricane the cost of providing water for consumers has increased and so the Authority has to come up with ways of meeting the cost.