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Bermuda water and wastewater regulatory structure

The Government of Bermuda has tasked the Ministry of Public Works with developing recommendations to improve Bermuda’s water and wastewater regulatory structure.

Bermuda’s traditional approach to water services and water sector management has served the island well, but opportunities for improvement exist.

If the sector remains unchanged, there is some risk of adverse public health and environmental outcomes, higher costs for Bermudian households and businesses, and impacts on the country’s reputation as a premier vacation destination and a location for global business.

The Ministry of Public Works has engaged Castalia, a strategy consulting firm specialising in water sector policy, to assist with reviewing Bermuda’s water and wastewater regulatory structure.

After previous consultations, the Ministry of Public Works and Castalia have produced a recommendation for implementing a regulatory framework for water and wastewater in Bermuda. Comments and results of the consultations were considered while producing the recommendation.

The goal of this consultation is to:

Present background information and progress made to Bermudan citizens
Present the recommendation for implementing the Water and Wastewater Regulatory Framework
Receive feedback from the public on the recommendation

Please provide feedback by entering a comment in this forum.

You can also contact water_regulation@gov.bm with questions and comments.

The Ministry encourages all persons to read and provide feedback. The consultation period will end on 31 May 2023.

Phases

Phases overview

Feedback

Feedback

April 26, 2023 - May 31, 2023

Bermuda Water and Wastewater Regulatory Framework - Public Consultation Document.pdf

(1.1 MB)

8 issues

Tonya Marshall3 years ago Thank you for the opportunity to submit comments and suggestions for the adoption of Regulations pertaining to the supply of piped water by Watlington Waterworks (“WW”). I submit that the Regulations should comprise (and impose) the following obligations upon WW:- 1. Obligation to monitor their water distribution system diligently on a daily basis so they know what is being drawn by each of the customers they serve. Belco does this for electricity usage, and there is no reason why Watlington should not be held to that same standard given the importance and cost of this precious commodity.2. Obligation to calibrate their water meters annually and certify to their customers (each individually) and their regulator that they have been calibrated and are accurate.3. Obligation to inform their customers of any issues or excess usage, no supply, limited supply or interrupted supply within 24 hours of issue arising.4. Regulations to be adopted in relation to the maximum acceptable levels of bacteria, chemicals, pesticides, runoff and other solids in potable water. Such regulations should be in line with those required in the United Kingdom and/or European Union.5. Continuity of Supply and Minimum Service Levels to be set and met on an ongoing basis by WW as the supplier of water to residential and commercial users of the same. 6. Regulations to be adopted in relation to the amount of “down time” permissible by Watlington Waterworks’ systems before refunds / rebates are owed to consumers. 7. Regulations to be adopted in relation to the duration of time that public and private roads usage can be disturbed, impeded and / or prevented by Watlington Waterworks digging/pipe laying/paving/leak fixing.8. Regulations to be adopted on the levels and extent of the compensation to be paid by Watlington Waterworks for disruption of road usage, business interruption due to blocked roads and access ways, etc. and loss of business by affected landowners.9. Accountability in the form of clearer and more detailed billing processes to be required and employed by Watlington Waterworks, and monthly billing to be provided to customers on a timely basis.10. Responsibility to be assigned to Watlington Waterworks for monitoring their customers’ usage on a daily basis in order to intervene in the event of faults on the Watlington line and on the customers side of the Watlington Waterworks meter in order to reduce waste due to line and /or meter malfunctions. Belco does this and the same capability is available for water suppliers. 11. Regulations to be established to require regular calibration of water meters in accordance with manufacturer’s guidelines. For example, if the manufacturer recommends annual calibration, then every meter should be calibrated annually. Failure on the part of Watlington Waterworks to calibrate each water meter annually should result in fines and means that one cannot rely on the meters for accuracy. In closing, Watlington Waterworks has been carrying on their business without any accountability for their systems errors and the malfunctions with their equipment. They take the position and presume that their system (although not maintained in accordance with manufacturers guidelines) is operating with 100 percent accuracy, and that any issues arising are the fault of (and are to be paid for by) their customers, with no questions asked. When one attempts to discuss an issue with them, Watlington’s representatives take the position that everything up to their meter is all that they are to be involved with. But yet they also don’t calibrate, monitor and supervise their meters and piping systems in accordance with manufacturers recommendations as to timing and in accordance with other global best practices.I am suggesting and requesting that the Government establish laws and regulations to regulate and hold Watlington Waterworks accountable in accordance with current best practices for piped water producers and suppliers in the UK and EU with immediate effect.Thank you for your consideration.

Dinah Sinnock3 years ago We need to retain a certain amount of open space with trees and foliage which all help to produce rain. One of the islands of Hawaii had to import certain trees to help them with their water situation - I don't want to see this island being a total concrete block with not enough sustainable natural/environmental ways to manage our natural water supply. Maybe also reinforcing the fact that water is a precious commodity and should be treated with respect and used wisely. Just my thoughts.

Elaine Blair-Christopher3 years ago Will or has this plan taken into consideration the UN Sustainable Development Goal 6 which is to ensure availability and sustainable management of Water and sanitation for all? Or it is only concerned about regulating the market and its operations within Bermuda? How will does this plan help Bermuda meet the targets and indicators within the SDG Goal.Goal 6 | Department of Economic and Social Affairs (un.org)

Taran Card3 years ago The RA have seen an area of the economy that they could not make worse.this is another example.what is the NEED here? Are there larger scale instances of sickness due to water deliveries spreading impure water? all this will do is increase the regulatory burden on service providers and increase the cost to consumers.Bermuda has always had a unique appreciation of the value and cost of water. When I was young and we were in periods of drought, we would see ads on tv about water conservation. Using your dish water to water plants. Etc.now we just want to make sure we can buy more of it and get it delivered quickly.the septic part is just a wedge to open up the door to all of us having a sewage connection. And pay for it!NO, to all of it.do something useful with the money you are paying the consultants, like re-pave the roads.

Tarik Smith3 years ago WASTEWATER REUSE:What treated wastewater quality standards are envisaged for reuse purposes? What are the proposed uses of this treated wastewater (at commercial , industrial and domestic levels) and how will such uses be monitored?WATER QUALITY MONITORING:Given the current "institutional constraints for monitoring drinking water quality", what, if any, additional resources would be provided under the new regulatory structure for the relevant government departments to meet the proposed demands and scope of the new water quality monitoring requirements?STAKEHOLDER REPRESENTATION:What types of initiatives, communication tools or platforms have been proposed or developed to improve the level of participation of the general public in the current consultation phase of the water and wastewater regulatory structure? Are there any plans or provisions in place to enable maximum participation in future development phases? To what degree have other interested bodies such as educational institutions, NGO's, grassroots organisations and other collectives been approached directly for their participation and input?I look forward to your feedback.

Robert Bruce Barritt3 years ago I am concerned that the intricacies of the Bermuda water trucking business have not been fully explored by the document and more discussion needs to be had with the members of this industry.>Water trucking is almost exclusively for household water supply as large commercial businesses and hotels have all hooked up to piped water or installed their own RO [ reverse osmosis] systems.>Water trucking is a "feast or famine" business---when it rains the phone never rings....when it is dry there is too much business to be handled efficiently. >Water truckers are generally owner/operators and have much invested in their truck and the business.>Bermuda's geography and narrow roads make some truckers limit their delivery range----driving a long distance takes time and reduces the number of loads one can deliver per day.>Water trucking is a physical job and is not for everybody----unrolling 100 feet of hose for one load and then "walking the hose" so that the liquid remaining in the hose is delivered into the tank....and then rolling up 100 feet of empty hose will confirm this.>The expansion of piped water supply will continue to erode the customer base for trucked water----I believe that truckers are philosophical about this and accept the progress as inevitable. I also believe that they agree with the need for assured quality of the water supply and welcome information from the Dept of Health about this.>The document states that "trucked water will need to be tested by an approved water testing body to comply with drinking water quality standards...." and I certainly need much more detail on this. The document does say that water can be "purchased from a piped water operator subject to testing requirements" and I expect that water truckers will be very concerned about added costs and limited access to such supplies.>I note that there is no mention in the document of tank cleaning services being regulated......either the frequency of cleaning or the scope and efficiency of the cleaning, materials and chemicals used etc. >It is interesting that the document states "demand for water has tripled in the last 50 years" [pg 24] but there is no data after 2002. Resident population and available hotel beds have dropped since 2022 so where is water demand currently? >The bigger question is what level of resident population and visitor accommodation can be reliably supported by our water resources and our waste water/sewer systems? I have a variety of other concerns and may be able to add them in a separate comment. I especially wonder how well this consultation was publicized as well as how challenging it is to actually weigh in with opinions and comments----not everyone is on line and not everyone can easily navigate the internet.Bruce Barritt

James Cox3 years ago To whom it may concern,Thank you for sharing the update on the Government of Bermuda's efforts to enhance the water and wastewater regulatory structure in the country. I on behalf of my company 'H2Zero Ltd.' would like to specifically address the topic of improved water monitoring through the installation of devices into tanks to monitor water levels and promote careful water usage as part of this response. Recognising the importance of responsible water management on the island, we believe that the installation of devices that monitor the water level in tanks is a step towards ensuring the sustainability of Bermudians water resources. The goal of our company, through these devices is to promote awareness and encourage more mindful consumption practices among residents and businesses.By installing our devices into tanks, Bermudians can achieve multiple benefits. Firstly, it enables individuals and households to have real-time visibility of their water usage and the remaining water supply in their tanks. This empowers them to make informed decisions about their water consumption and encourages a more thoughtful approach towards this precious resource. Ultimately, this can lead to a reduction in wastage and a greater appreciation for water conservation. Our data shows that 1 in 8 tanks in Bermuda has a crack, our system has identified cracks in many of our clients tanks which we have then had repaired. By doing this we can confidently say we have saved our clients 10,000s of gallons of water which otherwise was was going to waste. Moreover, monitoring the water level in tanks can help mitigate the risk of running out of water. By providing timely alerts or notifications when the water level reaches a certain threshold, individuals and households can take proactive measures to order more water or top up their tanks via plumbed in water. This is especially crucial in times of drought / during periods of high demand.Furthermore, promoting careful water usage through our tank monitoring devices aligns with the government's objectives of reducing costs for Bermudian households and businesses. By encouraging more efficient, and proactive water consumption practices, it will help to prevent costly pump burn outs and potentially lead to other cost savings for individuals and lower operational expenses for businesses.Our bikes, cars and boats all have a gauge on them telling us when we are running low on fuel, why not have something similar for our tanks? After all, it is never a good time to run out of water. We strongly believe that more should be done to get the residents of Bermuda to be more aware of what is in their tank and how much they are using with the implications of this far reaching. Knowing what is in your tank and being more mindful of it can help to foster a culture of water conservation and help to ensure the long-term sustainability of Bermuda's scare water resources.Many thanks,H2Zero Ltd.

Robbie Smith3 years ago

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