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REDHILL WATER SITUATION REMAINS SERIOUS DESPITE RAIN 

8 DAYS OF STORED WATER
 

Residents Urged to Continue Water Saving Measures
 

Rain showers over the past two days have not lessened the possibility of a partial domestic water shutdown on St Helena, as stored water levels remain exceptionally low.
 

Water consumption from the Redhill Treatment Plant increased yesterday to 350 cubic metres, up roughly by 100 cubic metres compared to the weekend. This is disappointing given the seriousness of the water situation, and residents are urged to continue to use as little water as possible. It is vital that all of us continue our efforts to conserve this precious resource.
 

This raised consumption, balanced against rain showers and water trucked and bowsered to the Redhill plant, means that we still only have 8 days¡Ç of supply remaining. 

The long term weather forecast from Ascension Island indicates only light, intermittent rainfall over the next couple of months, which is not sufficient to reverse the current problem. So the Contingency Planning Group (CPG) will continue to mobilise physical resources this week in anticipation of a possible shutdown or reduction of domestic water in: Half Tree Hollow, Cowpath, Ladder Hill, Red Hill, Sapper Way, New Ground, Clay Gut, Pounceys, Kunjie Field, Scotland, Plantation, Cleughs Plain, Rosemary Plain, Francis Plain, Crack Plain and Guinea Grass.
 

Yesterday saw 70 cubic metres of raw water transported from Jamestown to Redhill by the Transport and Fire teams, plus 190 cubic metres of water bowsered by Basil Read to the plant – bolstering our stored water at Redhill. This work will continue over the coming days, and we will continue to refine our use of additional water resources.
 

Our thanks go to the Roads, Transport, Fire, and Basil Read teams - and we ask the public for their continued co-operation with the truck and bowser traffic.
 

The contingency plan would see public water tanks at key locations in the affected areas, plus other public sources (for example, in Jamestown) to ensure that the public could access the water they need. A Control Centre, which will be manned during the day, evenings and weekends, is now in place and ready, should shutdown go ahead. Any reports of water wastage will be investigated by the Police.
 

Notes to Editors: 

We continue to urge all residents - particularly those served by the Red Hill Treatment Plant - to do all they can to use less water. A leaflet - Your Top Ten Tips to Saving Water - is now available in local shops. Please pick up a copy.

The public will wish to note that since November last year, St Helena has received only about a third of the rainfall it would normally expect – not at all like the seasonal norm.
 

The Island-wide hosepipe and sprinkler ban (imposed on Friday 24 May 2013) remains in place until further notice. All St Helena residents are reminded that they can use water for domestic purposes only.

Residents not served by the Red Hill Treatment Plant may use water for agriculture if they are growing on a large scale for commercial purposes. Such residents should ask ENRD to answer any specific questions they have.
 

The use of fresh water on a small scale, such as on household vegetable patches continues to be prohibited across the Island.
 

The leaflet - Your Top Ten Tips to Saving Water - is now available at:

• Public Library, Jamestown, Customer Service Centre, Jamestown, Health and Social Welfare Directorate, Upper Jamestown, and Consulate Hotel,
 

• Plus Half Tree Hollow Supermarket, A & D¡Çs Mini Mart, Half Tree Hollow, Andy¡Çs Shop, Half Tree Hollow, MTB¡Çs Pick and Pay, Half Tree Hollow, Sydneyray¡Çs Shop, Cow Path and Godfather¡Çs Rock Club, Half Tree Hollow.
 

• And Phillip John¡Çs Shop, St Paul¡Çs, McDaniel¡Çs Shop, Cleugh¡Çs Plain, New Ground Shop, and Red Hill Shop.

The leaflet reminds residents that they can save water in numerous ways, including:
 

• Not flushing the toilet on every occasion
 

• Using washing up water on the garden or vegetable patch
 

• Using the washing machine sparingly and only when full
 

• Taking a short shower instead of a bath - you can save up to 90 gallons of water a week
 

• Turning the tap off while brushing teeth - this could save 25 gallons of water a month
 

• Using a bowl when washing vegetables/fruit instead of using running water
 

• Checking your taps for leaks and fixing them - a small drip can amount to 20 gallons a day.
 

More water saving tips can be found online at http://www.thameswater.co.uk/home/540.htm

SHG
 

5 June 2013

GENERAL ELECTION 2013- NOMINATION DEADLNE PUBLISHED IN WRIT

 

The Acting Governor, Owen O¡ÇSullivan, issued the Writ of Election on Friday 31 May, confirming that the closing date for nominations will be Tuesday 2 July. The Election will be held on Wednesday 17 July.
 

The Writ, also listed the locations of the Polling Stations. There will be one in each Polling District, at locations used previously for the General Election, such as:
 

• Jamestown Community Centre
 

• Harford Community Centre
 

• Levelwood Community Centre
 

• Judge¡Çs Lodge, Alarm Forest
 

• Half Tree Hollow Community Centre
 

• Kingshurst Community Centre
 

• Blue Hill Community Centre; and
 

• Sandy Bay Community Centre The full list will be republished, nearer to Polling Day.
 

Candidates for the election must submit nomination forms to the Returning Officer, at No 1 Main Street, by 12pm on 2 July. The forms, with some explanatory notes, are available from the Clerk of Councils, Gina Benjamin (at No 1 Main Street), and from the Customer Service Centre and the Public Library. A factsheet about the work of Councillors, and their remuneration, is available from the same locations.
 

SHG
 

4 June 2013

GENERAL ELECTION 2013 - SICK OR ABSENT VOTERS

 

The law allows a voter who cannot attend the Polling Station due to:
 

• Absence from St Helena on Election Day, or
 

• Illness or physical incapacity to appoint a person (a ¡ÈProxy¡É) to vote on his or her behalf. The Proxy must be a person whose name is on the Electoral Register for the same Polling District as the sick or absent elector. No person may act as Proxy for more than one sick or absent voter. Appropriate forms are available from the Returning Officer (at 1 Main Street), the Customer Care Centre and the Library.
 

Completed forms must be submitted to the Returning Officer by 10am on Monday 15 July 2013, or earlier.
 

SHG
 

4 June 2013

ST HELENA PHOTOGRAPHY COMPETITION

 

Entries are invited from the ages of 10 and upwards to enter a national photography competition. The photos submitted must be images taken of St Helena. There are no set categories, but all images of people, places, wildlife and scenery should seek to capture the atmosphere, beauty and culture of the Island. There are 3 age categories (see below).
 

Images submitted for judging must be on CDs placed in an envelope with a description of the picture, date taken, photographer¡Çs name, age and contact details - addressed to Ian Jones, Chief Public Relations Officer, 1 Main Street.
 

Entries will be judged by a panel of St Helena residents. The closing date for entries is 31 July 2013, 4pm.
 

Prizes will be awarded by HE The Governor for first (¡ò150), second (¡ò75) and third (¡ò50) in each of the age categories of 10 – 15 yrs, 16 – 21 yrs and 22 and over. Winning entries are likely to receive substantial publicity. For more details and conditions (including copyright) please visit the St Helena Government Website www.sainthelena.gov.sh/

More details will follow shortly.
 

SHG

4 June 2013

DESPITE RAIN, WATER SITUATION REMAINS CRITICAL COUNTDOWN TO WATER SHUTDOWN CONTINUES

 

Residents Urged to Conserve Water Rain showers over the weekend have not lessened the possibility of a partial domestic water shutdown on St Helena, as stored water levels remain exceptionally low.
 

Though helpful, the weekend rain - plus the use of bowsers to transport raw water from Jamestown to the Redhill Treatment Plant - has only extended stored water reserves at Red Hill by a few days. This rainfall, though not raising levels of water in the Harpers reservoirs, has usefully ¡Æwet¡Ç the ground (meaning that we should see a better return if the showers continue). This means that we have only approximately 8 days¡Ç supply in the affected areas. But consumption from the Redhill Treatment Plant has reduced (stabilising at about 240 cubic metres per day at the weekend, compared with the previous average of around 400 cubic metres) and we thank the public for stretching this precious resource.
 

The long term weather forecast from Ascension Island indicates only light, intermittent rainfall over the next couple of months, which is not sufficient to reverse the current problem. So the Contingency Planning Group (CPG) has been mobilising physical resources over the weekend in anticipation of a possible shutdown of domestic water in: Half Tree Hollow, Cowpath, Ladder Hill, Red Hill, Sapper Way, New Ground, Clay Gut, Pounceys, Kunjie Field, Scotland, Plantation, Cleughs Plain, Rosemary Plain, Francis Plain, Crack Plain and Guinea Grass. This weekend work included intensive use of SHG bowsers and trucks to transport tanked, raw water from Jamestown directly to the Redhill Plant for treatment - to bolster supplies. This week, two bowsers from Basil Read will transport additional raw water to the plant from Grapevine Gut. These combined efforts can add up to 200 cubic metres of water each day.
 

Commenting on the weekend¡Çs work, Roads Manager Dave Malpas said: ¡ÈI am extremely grateful to Roads Section staff who have worked tirelessly transporting water. On Friday and Saturday, the team used four vehicles with total capacity of 13m3 to move nearly 100m3 of water from Jamestown to the Redhill treatment works. Having now addressed a few teething problems - and my thanks go to the Fire Service and Basil Read for their help - we hope to be moving in the region of 70m3 a day for the foreseeable future. Finally, I would like to ask the public for their continued co-operation with the bowser and fire tender drivers on Ladder Hill and when loading in Upper Jamestown.¡É
 

The contingency plan would also see public water tanks at key locations in the affected areas, plus other public sources (for example, in Jamestown) to ensure that the public can access the water they need.
 

A Control Centre, which will be manned during the day, evenings and weekends, is now in place and ready, should shutdown go ahead. Any reports of water wastage will be investigated by the Police. Notes to Editors: We continue to urge all residents - particularly those served by the Red Hill Treatment Plant - to do all they can to use less water. A leaflet - Your Top Ten Tips to Saving Water - is now available in local shops (see below for outlets). Press Briefings will now take place each Monday, Wednesday and Friday, at 2pm in the Council Chamber. Reusing Plastic (PET) Water Bottles Some erroneous information on the re-use of plastic (PET) water bottles has recently appeared in the media and elsewhere. The following is drawn from Cancer Research UK: ¡ÆWhat do the claims about plastics involve? ¡ÆA group of hoax emails have been doing the rounds for a few years warning about the so-called dangers of plastic bottles. The emails generally warn people about one or more of the following: reusing water bottles, freezing water in plastic bottles or leaving plastic bottles in cars. ¡ÆThere is no convincing scientific evidence to back up these claims or to suggest that any of these products could cause cancer. ¡ÆBackground: Disposable water and beverage bottles are generally made of a plastic known as PET or PETE (polyethylene terephthalate). Normally a triangular arrow symbol around the number 1 is printed on these bottles.
 

Advice to the public:

• Ensure bottle is not damaged. Clean thoroughly, ensuring that the inside dries completely. Wash and dry hands before refilling. Always cool water before filling bottle.¡Ç or The public will wish to note that since November last year, St Helena has received only about a third of the rainfall it would normally expect – not at all like the seasonal norm. The Island-wide hosepipe and sprinkler ban (imposed on Friday 24 May 2013) remains in place until further notice. All St Helena residents are reminded that they can now use water for domestic purposes only. The leaflet - Your Top Ten Tips to Saving Water - is now available at: Public Library, Jamestown, Customer Service Centre, Jamestown, Health and Social Welfare Directorate, Upper Jamestown, and Consulate Hotel, Plus Half Tree Hollow Supermarket, A & D¡Çs Mini Mart, Half Tree Hollow, Andy¡Çs Shop, Half Tree Hollow, MTB¡Çs Pick and Pay, Half Tree Hollow, and Godfather¡Çs Rock Club, Half Tree Hollow. And Phillip John¡Çs Shop, St Paul¡Çs, McDaniel¡Çs Shop, Cleugh¡Çs Plain, New Ground Shop, Sydneyray¡Çs Shop, Cow Path, and Red Hill Shop, The leaflet reminds residents that they can save water in numerous ways, including:

• Not flushing the toilet on every occasion

• Using washing up water on the garden or vegetable patch

• Using the washing machine sparingly and only when full • Taking a short shower instead of a bath - you can save up to 90 gallons of water a week

• Turning the tap off while brushing teeth - this could save 25 gallons of water a month

• Using a bowl when washing vegetables/fruit instead of using running water

• Checking your taps for leaks and fixing them - a small drip can amount to 20 gallons a day.
 

More water saving tips can be found online at http://www.thameswater.co.uk/home/540.htm
 

Residents not served by the Red Hill Treatment Plant may use water for agriculture if they are growing on a large scale for commercial purposes. Such residents should ask ENRD to answer any specific questions they have. The use of fresh water on a small scale, such as on household vegetable patches, is prohibited throughout the Island.
 

SHG
 
3 June 2013





 

COUNTDOWN TO WATER SHUTDOWN CONTINUES WATER SITUATION IN AFFECTED AREAS CRITICAL

 

Residents Urged to Conserve Water The countdown to a partial water shutdown on St Helena continues as stored water levels remain exceptionally low. Consumption from the Red Hill Treatment Plant has reduced slightly (at 232 cubic metres today, compared with an average of roughly 400 cubic metres) and this is positive - we thank the public for stretching this precious resource. But stored levels still only give us about 6 days¡Ç supply. Rainfall over the past few days has not raised levels of stored water in any of the Harpers reservoirs.

This weekend, we urge residents served by the Red Hill Treatment Plant to do all they can to use less water.

A leaflet - Your Top Ten Tips to Saving Water – is now available in local shops (see below). The new long term weather forecast indicates only light, intermittent rainfall over the next couple of months, which is not good news. So the Contingency Planning Group (CPG) is mobilising resources in anticipation of a possible shutdown of domestic water in: Half Tree Hollow, Cowpath, Ladder Hill, Red Hill, Sapper Way, New Ground, Clay Gut, Pounceys, Kunjie Field, Scotland, Plantation, Cleughs Plain, Rosemary Plain, Francis Plain, Crack Plain and Guinea Grass. This would see public water tanks at key locations in the affected areas, plus other public sources (for example, in Jamestown) to ensure that the public can access the water they need. Specific sites for public water tanks are being identified and tanks deployed (an ongoing process).
 

CPG has been discussing this and other matters with third parties, including merchants, retailers, Faith groups and Basil Read. Residents will no doubt be thinking of family and friends who might be vulnerable and may need help. A Control Centre, which will be manned during the day, evenings and weekends, is now in place ready, should shutdown go ahead. Finally, any reports of water wastage will be investigated by the Police. Notes to Editors: The public will wish to note that since November last year, St Helena has received only about a third of the rainfall it would normally expect – not at all like the seasonal norm. The Island-wide hosepipe and sprinkler ban (imposed on Friday 24 May 2013) remains in place until further notice.
 

All St Helena residents are reminded that they can now use water for domestic purposes only. NOTE: Customs Duty Exemption on Bottled Water and Water Containers: Following public representations, a proposal was put to the Collector of Customs and to ExCo, that all bottled water and water containers be made exempt from Customs Duty. The Acting Governor in Council agreed that from 30 May 2013, no Customs Duty would be payable on such imports from that date. It is strongly hoped that this reduction in Duty will result in a comparable reduction in the price of water sold by retailers, once the ship returns from Cape Town. We wish to see the full 20% reduction passed on to customers. The price of water will be closely monitored by SHG.
 

This exemption is for a temporary period, until drought concerns are lifted, and will be assessed by Customs on a ship by ship basis. The CPG today also thanked the RMS for donating 4 pallets of bottled water as a further contingency measure St Helena residents - particularly those in the problem areas - are urged to exercise real care and consideration when using water.
 

A leaflet - Your Top Ten Tips to Saving Water - is now available at: Public Library, Jamestown, Customer Service Centre, Jamestown, Health and Social Welfare Directorate, Upper Jamestown, and Consulate Hotel, Plus Half Tree Hollow Supermarket, A & D¡Çs Mini Mart, Half Tree Hollow, Andy¡Çs Shop, Half Tree Hollow, MTB¡Çs Pick and Pay, Half Tree Hollow, and Godfather¡Çs Rock Club, Half Tree Hollow. And Phillip John¡Çs Shop, St Paul¡Çs, McDaniel¡Çs Shop, Cleugh¡Çs Plain, New Ground Shop, Sydneyray¡Çs Shop, Cow Path, and Red Hill Shop, The leaflet reminds residents that they can save water in numerous ways, including: • Not flushing the toilet on every occasion • Using washing up water on the garden or vegetable patch • Using the washing machine sparingly and only when full • Taking a short shower instead of a bath - you can save up to 90 gallons of water a week • Turning the tap off while brushing teeth - this could save 25 gallons of water a month • Using a bowl when washing vegetables/fruit instead of using running water • Checking your taps for leaks and fixing them - a small drip can amount to 20 gallons a day.
 

More water saving tips can be found online at http://www.thameswater.co.uk/home/540.htm
 

Residents not served by the Red Hill Treatment Plant may use water for agriculture if they are growing on a large scale for commercial purposes. Such residents should ask ENRD to answer any specific questions they have. The use of fresh water on a small scale, such as on household vegetable patches, is prohibited throughout the Island.
 

SHG
 

31 May 2013