The Water and Sewerage Authority of Trinidad and Tobago (WASA) is the sole
water
Water (chemical formula ) is an inorganic, transparent, tasteless, odorless, and nearly colorless chemical substance, which is the main constituent of Earth's hydrosphere and the fluids of all known living organisms (in which it acts as a ...
and
sewerage
Sewerage (or sewage system) is the infrastructure that conveys sewage or surface runoff (stormwater, meltwater, rainwater) using sewers. It encompasses components such as receiving drainage, drains, manholes, pumping stations, storm overflows, a ...
provider in
Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago (, ), officially the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, is the southernmost island country in the Caribbean. Consisting of the main islands Trinidad and Tobago, and numerous much smaller islands, it is situated south of ...
. It was formed in 1965 by an Act of
Parliament
In modern politics, and history, a parliament is a legislative body of government. Generally, a modern parliament has three functions: Representation (politics), representing the Election#Suffrage, electorate, making laws, and overseeing ...
to manage the
Hollis,
Caroni–Arena and
Navet dams in Trinidad. In Tobago, WASA maintains the
Hillsborough Reservoir along with other freshwater wells to provide municipal drinking water for the country. The purview of the authority extends to the country's
sewage treatment plant
Sewage treatment (or domestic wastewater treatment, municipal wastewater treatment) is a type of wastewater treatment which aims to remove contaminants from sewage to produce an effluent that is suitable for discharge to the surrounding envir ...
s.
History
The Water and Sewerage Authority was formed by Act 16 of 1965 and enacted on September 1, 1965. This Act brought together several agencies that were formerly charged with the responsibility of providing water and sewerage facilities to the nation:
* The Central Water Distribution Authority
* The Port of Spain City Council
* The San Fernando Borough Council
* The Arima Borough Council
* The County Councils
* The Water Division of the Ministry of Public Utilities
* The Sanitation Division of the Ministry of Public Utilities
Infrastructure
The authority is the largest public utility in the country. It serves over 92% of the population with pipeborne water through private house connections and standpipes.
Since its establishment, water production has increased from 223,000 cubic metres to 650,000 cubic metres in 1990.
With respect to wastewater, 30%–40% of the population is served by a central sewerage collection and treatment system. Another 40% of the population are served by cesspit-tank soil-absorption field systems. Those remaining are served by pit latrines (outhouses).
Sport
The authority is represented by WASA FC, currently playing in the
National Super League
The National Super League is a league for semi-professional association football clubs in Trinidad and Tobago. It is the second-highest division of the Trinidad and Tobago football league system. The league currently comprises 19 teams between 2 l ...
, the second tier of the Trinidadian and Tobagonian football league structure.
See also
*
Trinidad and Tobago Electricity Commission
Trinidad and Tobago Electricity Commission (T&TEC) is the sole retailer of electricity in Trinidad and Tobago. It is responsible for the design, construction, operation and maintenance of the country's electrical transmission and distribution netw ...
References
{{authority control
Government agencies of Trinidad and Tobago
Water management authorities