As part of the Program for Strengthening Local Governance of Water and Sanitation in Haiti implemented by Helvetas Haiti (Swiss NGO) the Town Hall of Anse-à-Veau, the Regional Office of Drinking Water and Sanitation South and the National Directorate of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DINEPA) launched this week the project to rehabilitate the Saut du Baril Drinking Water Supply System (SAEP), financed by the Embassy of Switzerland in Haiti to the tune of 1.3 million US dollars.

This project aims to improve the drinking water supply conditions of the population of the town of Anse-à-Veau and neighboring localities, i.e. approximately 6,800 inhabitants. "The population has been facing a difficult situation in terms of drinking water supply since 2012", according to Marc Michel, the mayor of the city. Several citizens and leaders of grassroots organizations who participated in the ceremony pointed out that residents are forced to pay up to 400 gourdes for a 200 liter drum of water (about 60 gallons) and those who do not have cannot afford to travel several kilometers to fetch water at the entrance to the city.

The work, which is divided into two phases will last about 8 months. Phase I will consist of the construction of a new catchment and a protective fence, the rehabilitation of the existing catchment and three reservoirs, the construction of a new reservoir in the Azor locality, the repair of pipes in poor condition on the supply line and the construction of a new supply line to supply the new reservoir, then the extension of the network to the locality called O'Rouck (approximately 2,800 inhabitants). The extension of the network is planned for the second phase of the project, according to Guito Édouard, Director General of DINEPA, who gives the guarantee that the whole community will be involved in the implementation of the project in a way, he specified, to ensure the sustainability of the initiative. It is in this sense that he launched an appeal to the population who will have to agree to pay a contribution for the water service.

"Helvetas Haiti and Switzerland will withdraw. But you have to make sure that the system continues to work," launched Fabrizio Poretti, the Swiss ambassador in Haiti who tries to sensitize the members of the population on the need to manage the system well and to protect the sources.

HL/ HaitiLibre