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Government Issues Tender Notice for Seawater Desalination Water Project

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Tender by BWA for Construction of a Seawater Desal Plant
Tender by BWA for Construction of a Seawater Desal Plant

The water woes being suffered by Barbadians – especially in the North – for the last year merits serious discussion and action. The other issue being promoted by government – celebrating 5o years of Independence – has been competing valiantly for top spot. Using commonsense only there is agreement that there is no single issue more important than the affordable and sustainable generation and distribution of potable water at this time.

Barbadians should be grateful to witness Minister of Water David Estwick being smoked out from Hoadies by the Opposition Party to inform those who elected him the plan to correct the serious problem of water supply in this country. One bit of information shared by a bombastic David Estwick in his blustery delivery at a news conference – listen to news conference thanks to VoB –  this week is that the BWA has issued a tender to build a Seawater Desalination Water Augmentation facility. It appears he has invoked powers embedded in the law to instruct his cash strapped BWA Board to commit the government to long term liability. The people of Barbados will be eternally in your ‘debt’ Minister Estwick.

Read  Seawater Desalination Water Augmentation facility Tender Document.

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78 responses to “Government Issues Tender Notice for Seawater Desalination Water Project”

  1. Vincent Haynes Avatar
    Vincent Haynes

    This will be interesting……Does he have Cabinet approval…….I hope VOB will look at all angles tomorrow on down to Brasstacks.

  2. Hants Avatar
    Hants

    Seawater Desalination and solar electricity.

    Makes a lot of sense to me.

  3. David Avatar
    David

    @Vincen

    Did Estwick not grudgingly concede during the news conference he needed assent from the ministry of finance? However we know the two have not seen eye to eye in the past.

  4. Well Well & Consequences Avatar
    Well Well & Consequences

    “During 1998-2003, Barbados had an average annual increase in drinking water demand of 1.5% (Oderson and Singh 2003). Annual water withdrawals in the agriculture sector in 1996 was estimated at 19 million m3 (not including golf course irrigation at 0.9 million m3), or 24% of total water use, whereas the domestic, municipal and industrial sector accounted for 26 million m3, or 32% (FAO 2000).”

    Now I know BWA falls under FTC regulators, it’s wonderful national and international interests can bid, particularly joint interests. Would be much better to vet (investigate) those who show interest.

    How long have they known that apart from leaks, water has been also stolen and was anything done. No one can say the process was not made public.

  5. Well Well & Consequences Avatar
    Well Well & Consequences

    I particularly like the water bottling concept.

  6. Vincent Haynes Avatar
    Vincent Haynes

    @David January 16, 2016 at 7:09 PM #

    Yup,you are correct…..this is not a done deal by any means yet.

  7. David Avatar
    David

    Should we register some concern that Andrew Hutchinson is the engineering mouthpiece being sourced by VoB to help explain our water issues? Is this the same Hutchinson who sought to do the same about Cahill waste to energy plant at the boisterous open house hosted by Clare Cowan? Should we conclude he and his company are available for a fee?

  8. Vincent Haynes Avatar
    Vincent Haynes

    @David January 16, 2016 at 8:51 PM #

    Chuckle…….an interesting question.

  9. St George's Dragon Avatar
    St George’s Dragon

    Re Andrew Hutchinson, he is an engineer in a private sector consultancy. Of course he is available for a fee. If you paid him, he would probably work for you as well.

  10. Alvin Cummins Avatar
    Alvin Cummins

    @Well Well,
    As far as I am aware the BWA is not under the FTC. I am probably wrong.

  11. Bush Tea Avatar
    Bush Tea

    @ David
    Desalination is an expensive approach to harvesting water. It is done where money is no object, when engineering is top notch, and where the end product is highly valued.

    Places such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar etc routinely use desalination….

    BUT…
    Only a big-headed brass bowl would seek to apply desalination in a situation where:
    ..the country is so damn broke that Stinkliar cannot even return Bushie’s over-paid taxes.
    ..water is so cheap that wastage is second nature for Bajans
    ..the distribution system is leaking 50%

    You really mean that it is not OBVIOUS that step one for us should be to allow the laws of supply and demand increase the value of water to the point where WASTAGE is significantly reduced (first by consumers and also by the BWA dealing URGENTLY with leaks…)

    All this requires is that all usage ABOVE a certain BASIC monthly limit shall be subject to a special drought rate of 500% normal.

    Steupsss
    …fortunately Stinkliar will just wait for the gunslinger to commit himself to some shiite contract before pulling the rug from under his big-headed tail …..like with the Sugar Factory..

  12. NorthernObserver Avatar
    NorthernObserver

    You titled some of this a Tender document, but this is “an expression of interest”, known in other parts of the world as a Pre-Qualification Request.
    The MofF or BWA or any other body doesn’t have to approve anything until the bidders actually submit bids, under the terms of the PPP, which are frequently negotiable.
    What would seem appropriate, given the multitude of foreign bodies who have already done investigative reports, is a Strategy for tackling the islands water supply. Which would include as Bushie alluded to, some conservation methods and issues related to current infrastructure failings, as well as plans and methods for meeting the water supply needs.
    So it is understood, many governments these days choose the PPP method. For the contractor has to find the financing, and the government pays a fixed sum per annum for X years. This helps in bringing projects in at budget, a concept governments are universally known to be useless at doing.

  13. Shaft Avatar
    Shaft

    The cost of such a project will extremely high..! Mend broken pipes on time and stop people from stealing water… Solution..!

  14. Well Well & Consequences Avatar
    Well Well & Consequences

    Alvin…if the request document, it specifically states that FTC is the regulator for BWA. if any error, they made it. Read the doc.

  15. David Avatar
    David

    @NorthernObserver

    In the tender document does it say anything about pre-qualification? What the document addresses is having five year Financials. Not another Cahill in the making?

    @Alvin

    Why not read the documentation before going full tilt?

  16. Vincent Haynes Avatar
    Vincent Haynes

    Water project pipes left idle…….why…….will we have a repeat?

    http://bit.ly/237vMvv

  17. are-we-there-yet Avatar
    are-we-there-yet

    Vincent;

    Nothing to see there………….
    move on!

  18. Vincent Haynes Avatar
    Vincent Haynes

    @are-we-there-yet January 17, 2016 at 6:53 AM #

    I see a lot………what was the reason for the 9 year wait,which was to the detriment of the country and should a similar reason arise will the new project suffer the same fate?

  19. David Avatar
    David

    Here is the extract about pre qual that some of us were making the argument to Alvin Cummins, the pre qual gives the opportunity to make a shortlist. What was the short list for Cahill?

    The objective of this paper is to solicit expressions of interest from financially and technically competent private entities who wish to be put on the short list for the request for proposal. The request for proposal will to be put out for tender in January 2016 .

    Closing Date for this EOI: February 5, 2016 at 1600 hours Eastern Standard Time (EST); (UTC- 4

  20. David Avatar
    David

    Item 8 makes for interesting reading doesn’t it?
    Request for Expressions
    of Interest
    (EOI)
    1.0
    Country Description
    .
    2.0
    Barbados Water Authority
    .
    3.0
    The Project Opportunity
    .
    4.0
    Expression of Interest Goals and Requirements
    .
    5.0
    Closing Period
    .
    Application Format
    6.0
    Form 1: General Information.
    7.0
    Form 2: Quality Management System
    .
    8.0
    Form 3: Annual Revenue and Net Income, 5 Year Summary
    .
    9.0
    Form 4: Summary of Directly Applicable Experience
    .
    10.0
    Form 5: Details of Contracts of a Similar Nature and
    Complexity
    .
    11.0
    Form 6: Summary of Personnel Capabilities
    .
    12.0
    Form 7: Curriculum Vita of Senior Personnel
    .
    13.0
    Corporate Description and Related Information
    .
    14.0
    Audited Financial Statements
    .
    15.0
    Incorporation Documents
    16.0
    Safety Certificates and Program Information
    17.0
    Endnotes
    .
  21. David Avatar
    David

    BREAKING: President Obama declares State of Emergency in response to Flint water emergency

  22. Well Well & Consequences Avatar
    Well Well & Consequences

    9 year wait at taxpayers expense, of course they will not answer that one, each culprit will blame the other.

  23. Hants Avatar
    Hants

    It takes three to six months for the rain water to move from the surface into the aquifers.

    http://www.nationnews.com/nationnews/news/76754/rain-won-shortfall#sthash.PgwinwfX.dpuf

  24. David Avatar
    David

    @Hants

    As a country we need to do a better job of harvesting water.

  25. Old Baje Avatar
    Old Baje

    Bushie is spot on about charging a punitive rate for usage over a certain basic amount. Bajans would get serious about wastage in a hurry. Some provision would have to be made for farmers large and small. And the BWA should assist people in finding hard-to-find leaks on their property. Malfunctioning toilets are one of the biggest wasters of water. A little tip if you suspect your toilet: put some food dye in the bowl before you go to bed. If it’s clear in the morning water is leaking from the tank to the bowl.

  26. Old Baje Avatar
    Old Baje

    I wonder how many kilometers of leaking pipe could have been changed for what it cost to build the Palace in the Pine.

  27. David Avatar
    David

    Sir Errol is making some solid points.

  28. are-we-there-yet Avatar
    are-we-there-yet

    Vincent; re. your 7:04 post.

    Sorry you didn’t understand my post. That format is actually suggesting the opposite.

    There is a huge amount to see there if some proper investigative journalism is done. I suspect the story in today’s paper is just the tip of the iceberg.

  29. are-we-there-yet Avatar
    are-we-there-yet

    Vincent;

    …… I also suspect your second paragraph above might be uneeringly prophetic.

  30. Vincent Haynes Avatar
    Vincent Haynes

    David January 17, 2016 at 12:57 PM #

    It was an eye opener in many respects especially the critical need for potable water to all households at at all times sighted by Sir Errol Walrond.

    We have learnt that we are only looking at laying down 2% of our total pipe network.
    -we are loosing 45-50% of our water
    -the 9 year old pipes were a key factor for 4 developments to be built……2 are up and running
    -6m gals daily going to the sea in st.philip
    -xm going to the sea at paradise
    -expensive sea water desal plants the only answer
    -Aud.Gnl 2012 report states that we are paying 19m to ionics for a fixed amount of water despite the BWA not being able to accept all of it.

    Well,well,well…….Colonel Buggy where are you?

  31. David Avatar
    David

    @Vincent

    You forgot bad workmanship cited by Hutchinton. Poor operations that see overflow at reservoirs,

  32. David Avatar
    David

    @Alvin

    Hope you had a chance to listen to Engineer Andrew Hutchinson explain the difference between an Expression of Interest (EOI) and a Tender (RFP). If you did not it accords with what BU, St. George’s Dragon et al al have been trying to ram into your skull under the Cahill discussions.

  33. Vincent Haynes Avatar
    Vincent Haynes

    are-we-there-yet January 17, 2016 at 1:20 PM #

    Thanks for the clarification.

    Some of the more just came out……4 developments were granted T&CP permission with the proviso that those pipes be layed……today 2 are in operation without the pipes being layed…..interesting.

  34. Vincent Haynes Avatar
    Vincent Haynes

    David January 17, 2016 at 1:34 PM #

    Yep…..that too.

  35. David Avatar
    David

    @Vincent

    hemhem….when was the permission given for the developments by T&CP?

  36. Vincent Haynes Avatar
    Vincent Haynes

    David January 17, 2016 at 1:46 PM #

    Chuckle……I am quoting Engineer Hutchinson,who did not give dates……a bit of maths however would put us at 2007 and before………..and what are you implying?

  37. David Avatar
    David

    @Vincent

    A listen to Estwick’s press conference suggested all the blame should be placed on disingenuous politicians from across the divide. This government went ahead and planned housing developments in a geography already stressed by water supply. Wonder what Kellie has to say.

  38. NorthernObserver Avatar
    NorthernObserver

    “Here is the extract about pre qual that some of us were making the argument to Alvin Cummins, the pre qual gives the opportunity to make a shortlist. What was the short list for Cahill?”

    You does question and answer yaself? Any connection between the methods used in the two projects would appear hazy, though when one is dealing with politicians one must always be aware.

    And as soon as a politician uses the “it is their fault not ours” card, this far into their combined mandate, you know he has been sitting on his ass and been caught. Hopefully these water challenges can be rectified sooner rather than later.

  39. David Avatar
    David

    Andrew Hutchinson had to agree today that a seawater desalination project will be expensive.

  40. Vincent Haynes Avatar
    Vincent Haynes

    David January 17, 2016 at 2:23 PM #

    This shows beyond doubt that no one is looking after our country……….just re-read that precis of what was mentioned on the program and note not one from either side called in to refute anything.

  41. Hants Avatar
    Hants

    You also have the option to pray for rain or bring in some Canadian Indians to do a rain dance.

  42. David Avatar
    David

    @Hants

    Even with rain there is high % of runoff.

  43. millertheanunnaki Avatar
    millertheanunnaki

    @ David January 17, 2016 at 12:57 PM
    “Sir Errol is making some solid points.”

    What Sir Errol said must be taken very seriously by the decision-makers and immediately implement measures to minimize the risks associated with the paucity of potable water and disgustingly increasing garbage pile up around residential areas and indiscriminate disposal of dangerous chemicals.

    As said in a previous post the constant availability to potable water and the practice of proper hygiene- both personally and publicly- are the only safeguards against an outbreak of communicable diseases that are just lurking for opportunities to expose the vulnerability of humans. Any outbreak of epidemic proportions would make a terrorist attack look like a bee sting to the hide of hippo.

    The government, despite its fiscal difficulties, must stop playing Russian roulette with the health of the nation.

  44. David Avatar
    David

    It is interesting to reflect that Estwick was dumped in the ministry of water resources and before him Lowe. What does it say about the weight given to this ministry by both Thompson and Stuart?

  45. Well Well & Consequences Avatar
    Well Well & Consequences

    They are probably building up to blame any water borne epidemic on the same terrorists that are their latest passion. Who else will they blame it on.

  46. Vincent Haynes Avatar
    Vincent Haynes

    David

    Water bursts on the west coast….todays Nation pg 3….interesting read,I wonder why they do not run a new pipe system.

    PM says that the MoA will deal with the water woes……interesting

  47. David Avatar
    David

    @Vincent

    The report mentions it will take time for the main laying to reach the West Coast.

  48. chad99999 Avatar
    chad99999

    There are a lot of know-it-alls mouthing off about alternatives to desalination without putting any financial analyses on the table to support their arguments. How costly is it to replace an aging water distribution system, or substantial parts of it, in order to minimize leaks? If you mandate conservation by hiking water charges, how many people will stop washing their hands and flushing the toilets, and once these bad habits spread, and become entrenched, what will be the public health consequences? Am I going to end up dead from food poisoning or some other bacterial infection because a restaurant worker or a fellow passenger on the bus tried to save a few cents on a water bill?

  49. Vincent Haynes Avatar
    Vincent Haynes

    David January 18, 2016 at 10:17 AM #

    What confusses me is that we know that we are loosing 45-50% of our water daily.

    We are going to put down 2 saltwater desal plants at what has been stated at a very high figure.

    When house pipes which are normally placed in the walls start to leak,we by pass them and install a new connection.

    Why can we not install a new system of pipes as opposed to repairing the over 100 year old system?

    Remember Hutchinson said they were only “replacing” 2% of the pipes……so untill we can compare the two costs we are spinning top in mud.

    Informing the public as to why decisions are taken,is sadly lacking.

  50. David Avatar
    David

    @Vincent

    Have to defer your question to the engineer.

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