Truckers welcome reopening of Tynes Bay water plant

WEDNESDAY, JULY 6: The pumping station for water truckers at Tynes Bay is expected to open tomorrow after being closed for several weeks.

Truckers have been forced to use other stations as demand has rocketed for water due to drought conditions.

The million gallon-a-day plant has been off-limits to truckers for a month because of a pump failure.

Bruce DeGrilla, manager of Darby’s Water Services, said: “I don’t know what the problem has been, but the truckers have been getting the bad end of the deal — and ultimately, so have our customers.

“Customers have been kicking up to us because it’s taking two or three weeks to get them water.

“Tynes Bay reopening should make it a bit easier for us and our customers.”

Mr DeGrilla said that — up until a few years ago — water pumping stations were open 24 hours-a-day so a truck could easily deliver 15-20 loads a day.

But he said: “Now we can do six or seven loads a day — and seven is pushing it.”

Sources said that although truckers could not load water at Tynes Bay, the multi-million dollar reverse osmosis plant had been able to pump water to the Prospect water filling station.

Rainfall

But Mr DeGrilla said there was a limit to how many trucks could fill up in the average day — and the loss of Tynes Bay for a month had hit water companies’ ability to deliver.

Only 13.56in of rain has fallen so far this year — around half the average rainfall of 27.06in that would normally be expected by July.

And forecasts from the Bermuda Weather Service show little relief in the drought conditions.

A ridge of high pressure means the weather will remain mostly fine, dry and sunny, over the next few days, although one or showers late at night or in the early hours of the morning are predicted.

Friday and Saturday are expected to be mostly sunny.

A spokesman for the Ministry of Public Works said: “All plants are up and running. We will be opening the North Shore truckers’ outlet by Thursday, or sooner if all goes well.”