Pilot Project Title:
Testing a Prototype Caribbean Regional Fund for Wastewater Management GEF
Objective:
The National Wastewater Revolving Fund (NWRF) was established with US$2 million from the GEF to support the efforts of the Government of Trinidad and Tobago (GORTT) to address the urgent issues confronting the wastewater sector. It is envisioned that it would support the efforts of the GORTT to address the urgent issues confronting the wastewater sector.
Trinidad and Tobago became a Pilot country in September 2012 and signed the Grant Agreement in June 2013. The Project Executing Agency, and NWRF Manager, is the Ministry of Finance and Economy. The Water and Sewerage Company (WASA) is responsible for the First Generation Project which includes the Scarborough Wastewater Treatment Plant and construction of 215 property connections to the system.
The total cost of the First Generation project is US $4,792,344 with the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago (GORTT) funding US $625,000, and additional funding from WASA or GORTT of US $2,167,344. The NWRF is in the process of being established and will be governed by a Board of Directors from a number of relevant agencies. The Ministry of Finance is the Project Executing Agency. Project benefits include: operation of the WWTP at optimum capacity; reduced risk to public health; beginning reversal of the trend of environmental degradation, thereby protecting the delicate ecosystem and enhancing the tourism industry, increased revenue for the Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA), and; compliance with the LBS Protocol which the GOTT ratified in 2003.
Status of Pilot project:
The National Wastewater Revolving Fund of Trinidad and Tobago (NWRFT) has been established by legal notice. The bank account is being established and terms of reimbursement are currently being determined. Although this project began relatively late, much progress has been made. The contract for refurbishment of the Scarborough WWTP was approved by WASA’s Board in February 2014 and IDB’s “No Objection” was received on May 21st 2014. The contract agreement is being prepared and work is expected to begin in July 2014.
Final engineering designs and tender documents for construction of property connections to the Scarborough sewerage network were expected at the end of May 2014, with work on the property connections expected to begin in October 2014.