Most Of The Flooding Is expected To Be Gone Within 48 Hours

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NASSAU, BAHAMAS – Clearing up the severe flooding over the past few days presented its fair share of challenges for the Ministry of Works; still, they’re expecting the situation to be rectified in the next few days.

Senior engineer in the Ministry of Works, Dexter Williams, is setting for the majority of water across the island to be at a much more manageable level. 

According to Williams, over six million gallons per day, but Williams tells us it didn’t come without its challenges. 

In areas like Perpall Tract and the Grove West, Williams says they stumbled upon this issue.

dexter williams – senior engineer, the ministry of works

Upon closer investigation, we realized that a property developer had blocked the channel, which we had to clear it to allow the water to flow to the wetland. so we never knew that it was blocked; we just saw the water and people complaining, and upon investigating, we realized that the channel was blocked. it has been cleared.”

Kenyan Miller  – Senior Superintendent, The Ministry of Works

“we also have a sewer fight with this. sewer mixed with the water so, creating more volume for us to pump out. That makes it very difficult because as far as we pump the water, that adds more sewer.”

Tropical Storm Imelda rolled in with heavy rainfall, causing severe flooding in multiple communities across New Providence.

Williams says around three pumps are operating at Saunders Beach for hours.

Williams telling us they’ve used direct pumping, pump trucks, and well blowing.

Dexter Williams – Senior Engineer, The Ministry of Works

“it’s a what i call a three-pronged approach. close to the coastal areas, we pump directly into the sea, as we are seeing we’re doing at saunders beach, as you can see. we have two pumps there now working, one of them we took down for maintenance. at this location, we do not have full access to the sea unless we block up west bay street, so what we’re doing is just pumping at the lowest throttle on the pump into a well that’s adjacent to the highway.”

As for the way forward, Williams says there are things we can do to ensure this situation doesn’t happen again.

Dexter Williams – Senior Engineer, The Ministry of Works

“we have to make sure that we keep the wells clean, that we don’t block up the waterways by dumping stuff in it illegally, but if we get what we get a perfect storm, all we have to do is tog o into mitigation mode is because certain area is below the water table an there is no way you an deal with those things apart form after the event you just have to respond and pump the water elsewhere.”