BEETHAM Gardens residents are calling for assistance after a burst 36-inch water main on Sunday night sent torrents of water into their homes leaving several families displaced and counting losses.
When the Express visited the area yesterday, residents described the incident as an unexpected blow to their daily lives.
One resident, who did not want to be named, described the incident as “chaotic and frightening”. The resident said the pipe ruptured with force and created a constant flow of water for hours. At least ten homes were affected.
“The water pipe burst and it was like a fountain. Plenty of water. We couldn’t come outside. We had to evacuate, try to see if we could send my children somewhere else because there was too much water. All of us have children in the back here. All of the houses are board houses, and you see how small it is, so in the little bit of space everybody was affected. The other side was like for 24 hours and more. Non-stop water. Non-stop,” the resident said.
The experience, the resident said, was traumatising as families struggled to cope with water entering their homes.
“You have your children and you want to do your things in your house, you want to be comfortable, but you cannot be comfortable. You couldn’t do that because water was coming inside. The whole ground was wet. Everything was wet,” the resident reported.
Some residents were forced to leave their homes due to the issue, the resident added.
Residents are appealing for help to repair and replace damaged belongings.
“We need help with furniture, ply, anything; because we have children in the back here, so anything they want to offer, we will entertain, because we need help right now. Some of our houses are peeling due to the water. We have a lot of things going on—so any help they’re willing to give,” the resident said.
While officials from the Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA) responded to the leak, the resident said there has been limited engagement with those affected.
“WASA came, but not a representative. Nobody hasn’t come to see, to talk to the family and to see what’s going on. It would be nice if somebody showed that they care,” the resident said.
In a release Monday, WASA said it was alerted to a substantial leak on the air valve welding of the transmission main, which impacted operations at the El Socorro Booster Station.
The disruption affected communities including Knaggs Hill and Picton II Reservoir, Black River, Barataria, Laventille, Port of Spain, Morvant, East Dry River, St Barbs, Gonzales, Long Circular, Dundonald Hill, Dibe, Woodbrook, St James, Cocorite, Belmont, Cascade and St Ann’s.
WASA said emergency response protocols were activated to address the situation. “In the interest of public safety and infrastructure integrity, WASA teams immediately initiated emergency response protocols. Crews are currently accessing and operating valves to dewater the affected 36-inch Booster Line in order to safely carry out repairs,” the Authority stated.
According to WASA the El Socorro Booster Station was expected to resume operations at 50% production yesterday and by 8 p.m. the Booster Station will return to 100% production.
