Water Distribution Challenges in Northeast Trinidad and Tobago

Abstract

Provision of a reliable supply of water with adequate pressures is a paramount challenge for the water distribution network in Northeast Trinidad and Tobago. Customers in this region, served by the Water and Sewerage Authority of Trinidad and Tobago experience difficulties in obtaining a pipe borne supply of water as they reside on areas of high elevation or are at the farthest end of the distribution system. Areas where water supply challenges are a problem are Oropoune Gardens Piarco, Upper Five Rivers Arouca, Windy Hill Arouca, Edna Hill Arouca, Lillian Heights Arouca, The Foothills Arouca, Pineridge Heights Housing Development and Ridgeview Heights Housing Development Bon Air North. Sources of supply to these impacted areas are the North Oropouche Water Treatment Plant, the Hollis Water Treatment Plant, the Tacarigua High Lift Station and Arouca wells. Challenges in the water supply are a consequence of obsolete pipelines, numerous leaks, failure of mechanical equipment and a shortened duration of supply. This paper identifies the inefficiencies and challenges of the water distribution system in this region by simulating flow through crucial transmission and distribution pipelines using ANSYS Fluent simulation. The Hazen-Williams equation was used to calculate frictional pressure loss in the respective crucial pipelines. Using the results from both analyses, prospective solutions to alleviate and eliminate the inadequate water supply experiences faced by customers in these areas were advocated.