WorldWide Drilling Resource

62 JANUARY 2015 WorldWide Drilling Resource ® Ignatius Jean and the Future of a Region Part 2 Compiled by amy White, associate Editor WorldWide Drilling Resource ® During the Water Expo in Miami, Florida, Ignatius Jean, executive director of the Caribbean Water & Sewerage Association, Inc. (CAWASA), discussed major water issues in the Caribbean, along with global e f f o r t s t o so l ve them. CAWASA is a regional organiza- tion of water utili- ties committed to forging pathways of sustainable growth. It is comprised of 13 member utilities: Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, Nevis, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, as well as Turks and Caicos Islands. Freshwater availability has declined as much as 50% in some areas over the last 40 years, especial ly in the northern Caribbean. Water losses due to theft and leakage, among other things, range from 17% to 66% in CAWASA’s Borrowing Member Countries. Less than a third of the region’s population is connected to a centralized sewerage system. For many water utilities, serv- ice revenues aren’t enough to cover operational costs. So far, the public has shown very little appetite for change. Several perceived political risks also keep progress at bay. Politicians are reluctant to raise water rates or improve collection of unpaid bills. The Caribbean is also vulnerable when it comes to nature. Drought events, flooding, saline intrusion, and landslides are just a few issues plaguing the region. CAWASA is working with interna- tional organizations to overcome prob- lems and move countries into a new era of water stability. The Caribbean Water Initiative (CARIWIN), a 6-year project on Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM), created a frame- work for success. IWRM is a process guided by social, economic, and envi- ronmental principles promoting the coordinated development and man- agement of water resources. Through CARWIN, three decision support tools were developed in the Caribbean: National Water Information Sys t em, Car i bbean Drough t and Precipitation Network, and National Spatial Data Infrastructure. IWRM has successfully implemented changes in several Caribbean countries. Barbados, Grenada, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines have estab- lished IWRM road maps; Antigua and Barbuda have developed a road map and national policy; Dominica formulat- ed a national policy; and several other islands have prepared national dialogues for charting future courses. As the Caribbean enters into its annual dry season, Ignatius wi l l be working as hard as ever with CAWASA to provide member utilities with cutting- edge training and to establish regional and international connections in water and wastewater sectors. These island nations have a long way to go on their journey to water stability, but through continuous learning, personal growth, and international support, CAWASA hopes to pave the way forward to a better future for residents. Ignatius Jean y el Futuro De Una Región Parte 2 Compilado por amy White, Editor asociado WorldWide DDrriilllliing Resource ® Durante la Expo del Agua en Miami, Florida, Ignatius Jean, director ejecutivo de la Asociación Caribeña de Agua y Alcantarillado, Inc. (CAWASA), discutió los problemas graves del agua en el Caribe, así como los esfuerzos globales para resolverlos. CAWASA es una organización regional de servicios de agua públicos comprometida a forjar formas de crec- imiento sustentable. Esta compuesto por 13 compañías de servicios públicos: Anguila, Antigua y Barbuda, Barbados, Islas Vírgenes Británicas, Islas Caimán, Dominica, Granada, Montserrat, Nevis, St. Kitts, Santa Lucía, San Vicente y las Granadinas, así como Turcos y las Islas Caicos. La disponibilidad de agua potable se ha reducido hasta en un 50% en algunas áreas en los últimos 40 años, especialmente en el norte del Caribe. La pérdida de agua debido a robo y fugas, entre otras cosas, varían del 17% al 66% en países prestatar ios de CAWASA. Menos de un tercio de la población en la región está conectada a un sistema de alcantarillado centralizado. Para muchas empresas de servicios de agua públicos, los ingresos por servicios no son suficientes para cubrir los costos de operación. Hasta ahora, el público ha mostra- do muy poco interés en el cambio. Varios riesgos políticos percibidos también WWDR photo of Ignatius Jean Hector Leos Translator +1*0 '* 0 0#/ .+1*" 0#. 4,+ # .1 .5 0 0&# -1 .'1/ /'*+ #/+.0 1%&('* +. )+.# '*$+.) 0'+* 2'/'0 1/ +*('*# )+1*0 '*/0 0#/%.+1*"3 0#. !+) ) '( '*$+ )+1*0 '*/0 0#/%.+1*"3 0#. !+) &# +1*0 '* 0 0#/ .+1*" 0#. 4,+ '/ &+/0#" 5 0&# 0#. #(( *" .+1*" 0#. //+!' 0'+*/ +$ .'6+* +(+. "+ #2 " #3 #4'!+ *" 0 & Ignatius Jean trans. cont’d on page 64.