Cay Bay Water Plant
upgrade in full swing
CAY BAY--Increasing the water production capacity of the Cay Bay water plant is the main focus of ongoing upgrades that will result in a US $14 million overhaul of the island’s longest running reverse osmosis plant by the end of the year.
Air-Fin Managing Director Willem Barendsen told The Daily Herald one of the six water production unit will be completely rebuilt to improve quality and effectiveness. This unit was left on the wayside by the last company that operated the plant.
With this production unit rebuilt and the other five upgraded, the water capacity of the plant will be a constant 13,000 cubic metres of water to supply the daily demand of the island. Some 1,200 membranes used to filter water pumped in from the sea are being placed by Air-Fin. Several of the filters have not been changed for some time now.
Work on each water production unit is being carried out when the Cole Bay Hill tank is at capacity to ensure there is no water shortage or disruption to residents. Barendsen said the goal is to upgrade the plant with very little or no disruption of water supply to the island.
Air-Fin built and is operating the island’s second water plant in Cupecoy that has been pumping out 3,700 cubic metres of water as of January. In its contract, Air-Fin needs to produce 3,000 cubic metres of water at the new plant daily. The additional 700 cubic metres is extra capacity that Barendsen had put in place for future needs.
