LETTER TO THE EDITOR: DOWASCO water please

Dear Editor,

Once again I am forced to write to our sole water company DOWASCO, to express what continues to be the plight of residence of Dublanc and Bioche, in relation to pipe-borne water in these twin communities.

In November 2015, following the passage of Tropical Storm Erika our access to pipe-borne was a nightmare now this nightmare is back and even worse following the passage of Hurricane Maria. According to the Public Relations Office of DOWASCO, Mr. Edward Registe, DOWASCO has restored water to 96% in Dominica.

Well I would like to find out from Mr. Registe – Which areas form part of that 96%? Are the communities of Dublanc and Bioche included in that percentage and if yes, how does DOWASCO define the term restoration? In this same news briefing, Mr. Registe stated “I must inform the general public that several of our systems, even if they have been restored they remain very vulnerable so therefore, we always encourage our people to keep water in storage, that is very important because you never know when there can be an unscheduled interruption.”

My question to him is what we the residences of Dublanc and Bioche have been experiencing for the past 5 months or so be classified as “unscheduled interruption?” Mr. Registe and those in authority can you all imagine a working person who leaves home in the morning at about 6:30am with no water in the pipe to perform relevant chores, returns home from a long day’s work and still no water not until about 10pm or even 5am” “How much can this person do where water is needed?

Further, what baffles residence the most is that at the end of the month residence receive water bills but are we being billed for water that we have actually used? We would really like to know.

Whilst we do not close a blind eye to the challenges that the company has and continues to face as a result of the devastation of Hurricane Maria, we believe that we have exercised much patience and tolerance for what we deem as being “very insensitive to our situation”. Can’t DOWASCO do much better in meeting the water needs of these communities by providing water in a more practical manner? Has DOWASCO even considered meeting with the residents to at least discuss this situation with us or do we have to request a meeting of nature?

We the residence of Dublanc and Bioche firmly believes that we have endured this suffering for far too long and we are more than ready to see some urgent attention be placed on finding an amicable solving to this problem. We are therefore calling on Mr. Bernard Ettinoffe, General Manager along with your management team to please, please, please come to our aid, WE NEED WATER PLEASE!.

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20 Comments

  1. Paul Rossnof
    June 26, 2018

    Dowasco is a mirror image of the government. Useless, lazy, incompetent and being economical with the truth at any given time. Both of them are no value for money to Dominicans.

  2. West Coast resident
    March 29, 2018

    Block a road and protest then the government gets involved and things happen. Try doing it the peaceful way and nobody bothers. We have tolerated no electricity but water is life. And unlike Domlec who makes the electricity, dowasco jobs is to just bring the resource to your homes.

  3. Gigs
    March 29, 2018

    Dewasco canot cope.but before the disaters they wernt bufying water pipes properly.
    And now they got no funds to bury them so they just put them on rhe ground.
    Thats what they call building back better.climate resiliant.

  4. Concerned resident
    March 28, 2018

    Therefor the people of Bellevue Chopin need to let their voice be heard.

  5. What?
    March 28, 2018

    Grandbay have rivers on both the North and South sides, yet water is available only on Mon, Wed, and Fri., from around 2pm til 7pm. Someones house catches fire, and there is no water for the fire fighters, the person loses their home. That is part of the 96% of recovery that is so esteemed. and so it goes!

  6. What?
    March 28, 2018

    Grandbay, river on the north side, river on the south side. Pipe-borne water, mon. , wed., & fri from around 2pm-7pm. Fire at a residence, no water to fight fire, individual loses home. That is the bragged about recovery that is happening in Dominica.

  7. What?
    March 28, 2018

    Grandbay, river on the north side, river on the south side, pipe water -mon. wed. and fri from about 2pm-7pm. A fire at a residence, no water to fight the fire , person loses home, this is the great job of recovery that is going on.

  8. Level headed Resident
    March 27, 2018

    Righto on Dublanc and Bioche Posse

  9. Stupes
    March 27, 2018

    No offense, but you all at least get water at some point in the day, be grateful…. Bellevue Chopin still waiting :cry: :cry: :cry:

    • Concerned resident
      March 28, 2018

      So residences of Bellevue Chopin is just going to sit and wait on the water to come to them. Let your voice be heard.

    • Gigs
      March 29, 2018

      What does that tell u about dewasco. Bellvue still got no water.dewasco carnt cope.fire the enginiers.

      • Neville
        April 1, 2018

        Management too!! They are arrogant and incompetent.

  10. RandyX
    March 27, 2018

    Dowasco is a mirror image of the government, lazy, incompetent and useless. They can only survive in Dominica, elsewhere people are much more demanding.

    • Irma
      March 27, 2018

      I don’t agree with you nuh.
      These guys work tirelessly in normal times and since after Maria a lot of them are sacrificing personal time with their families to ensure that the work is done.

      If you have to blame anybody, go to the very top. Honorable Reginald Austrie!

      He is the head honcho in charge of water works in Dominica.

    • Gallileo
      March 28, 2018

      Reading your comments over the past few months has led to the conclusion that you are in need of urgent help in order for you to combat your bitterness. DOWASCO has been doing a phenomenal job as it relates to the restoration of the much needed water supply to communities throughout Dominica. However, there are many challenges as one may appreciate that the impact received from the hurricane was tremendous and the losses to the company were great. We all know that water is absolutely necessary but be considerate of the people who work long hours under dangerous conditions and let’s exercise some patience.
      Just so that I am not judged by those who have no knowledge of my circumstances, I lived a a community in Dominica where we mostly got water at nights and daytime supply was a rarity. This lasted for the better part of 20 years.

      • RandyX
        March 28, 2018

        Only DLP apologists have understanding for the incompetence of this and the other utility companies in Dominica.

      • zandoli
        March 28, 2018

        Gallileo…how, having a sporadic water supply for 20 years be an endorsement of Dowasco?

        They may very well be doing yeomen work trying to restore the water supply, but what you described over the past 20 years does not speak well of their commitment to providing a reliable supply of good drinking water to the citizens of Dominica.

      • Gallileo
        March 28, 2018

        Zandolie I see basic understanding is not your strength. I have stated my endorsement and it’s clear. My point is I endured it for 20 years and as such under these circumstances a Six month inconvenience can be endured. I am certain all we be made well soon. No response to Randyx. I can’t help this individual . their case is beyond my capabilities. :-D

      • Gallileo
        March 28, 2018

        Zandoli I have stated my reasons for endorsing the company. My mention of my circumstances is to encourage the people to be patient as circumstances are not normal presently. Six months can’t be compared to 20 years.
        If Radyx must know, the situation was remedied in 2004. :wink:

      • Neville
        March 30, 2018

        Dowasco is and remains a failing company. Only in Dominica can a heap of s..t survive for so long because Dominicans are to laid back. Water is a basic human need. For more than 20 years Dowasco has failed to supply that basic need on a continuous basis to the citizens of Dominica. I know a village in the North where even before Maria and Erika, the water supply was hit and miss. Everyone it rained a bit the water supply was interrupted for days. So I guess people like Gallileo find this acceptable. He must be the CEO of Dowasco!

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