New reservoir to be built at Bel Ombre |30 May 2016

The Public Utilities Corporation (PUC) will as from October this year start construction works on a new reservoir at Bel Ombre. The new reservoir will be in operation by June next year.

The project, which will consist of transferring water from multiple rivers in the Anse Major and Mare aux Cochons areas and stock it in the reservoir before distribution mainly to the northern part of Mahé, was presented to the Bel Ombre community in a public meeting on Saturday afternoon.

According to PUC project manager Michel Bristol, the project which will increase PUC’s distribution capacity in the area from 250 to more than 1200 cubic metres per day, will provide more reliable water supply to north Mahé while decreasing pressure on existing water sources and minimising usage of desalination plants, especially during the dry seasons.

Though turn-out at the meeting was low, those present were very participative and made valuable suggestions to PUC and environment representatives during an interaction with them.

As they noted that every single district in Seychelles has rivers, they proposed that the same water transfer, stocking and distribution system be applied to other districts or regions.

This, they said, will prevent drinkable water from flowing into the sea and avoid the population from drinking “salted water” from desalination plants, which they added are very costly to run.

“Water from Anse Major and Mare aux Cochons will save our lives. It will add to the Mount Simpson source which is now being distributed in north Mahé. If the project is well executed, it will permit supply of water to as far as Anse aux Pins. I completely support this project,” Pierre Guiselin commented.

He was supported by John Talma who had this to add:

“We must bring Bel Ombre water back to Bel Ombre people. In this way, we will stop drinking salted water. If the project is well planned, water from the Bel Ombre area can supply at least half of Mahé,” he said.

The answer from PUC is that the company is working on the ideas as part of its Water Development Plan, whereby more reservoirs will be built in the future.