Potable water scarcity in Cap Haitien, system sabotage

By Wedlyne Jacques (kft, gp)

AlterPresse

English | French

Translated from the French by Dady Chery for Haiti Chery

Cap Haitien, Haiti — No water from the taps of Cap Haitien residents since months. And they must walk several kilometers to reach a source of water.

Some people interviewed by AlterPresse report that they wake up as early as 2:00 to 5:00 am (from 6:00 to 9:00 gmt) to queue for half a day to buy water that is not even fit for drinking, at five gourdes (12 cents) for a five-gallon bucket — which sometimes sells more expensively. (US $ 1.00 = 43.00 gourdes, 1 euro = 58.00 gourdes)

Everywhere: in populous neighborhoods and even in the most exclusive ones, you meet people carrying their containers with wheelbarrows or in a car, in search of drinking water.

Water: an essential resource to satisfy various needs (consumption, washing, hygiene, cooking, etc.), has become increasingly rare in the country’s second city, 248 km north of Port-au-Prince.

The situation became even more unbearable in Summer 2012, as it timidly gave way to Fall.

The rise in temperature caused an increase in the daily consumption needs for water, many people say.

Faced with this situation, National Water Supply and Sanitation Department (DINEPA) administrator Gédéus Rico reported a sabotage of pipes under repair by individuals who recycle scrap metal.

He also noted a depletion of the ground water from the hills of Haut du Cap due to deforestation and the proliferation of uncontrolled construction.

DINEPA is currently working on a water supply system for Cap Haitien including pipes and reservoirs.

This work plans to supply water gradually to the inner-city population of Cap, pending an improvement in the supply system to provide water to other sections of the town, according to the departmental administration of DINEPA.

Sources: AlterPresse (French) | Haiti Chery (English)

UPDATE #1, April 10, 2014 (Radio Metropole): In Miragoane, after one year without municipal water and only sporadic electrical service, thousands of people marched in several protests. One 19-year-old was killed by tear gas during one of the protests. On April 4, 2014, the organizer of the protest movement, Mr. Fitz Gerald Civil, was first shot in the feet and then killed by policemen from the Departmental Unit for Maintenance of Order (UDMO). Had he not been killed, Mr. Civil would have been a candidate in Miragoane’s 2014 legislative and municipal elections. Another protest by thousands of people followed on Wednesday, April 10, 2014.

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Haïti-Eau potable : Rareté au Cap Haïtien, le système saboté

Par Wedlyne Jacques (kft, gp)

AlterPresse

anglais | francais

Cap-Haïtien, Haiti — Pas d’eau dans le robinet des capois, ce, depuis des mois. Et il faut parcourir plusieurs kilomètres pour atteindre un point d’eau.

Interrogées par AlterPresse, certaines personnes racontent qu’elles se réveillent de 2:00 à 5:00 am (de 6:00 à 9:00 gmt), pour faire la queue durant une demi-journée, afin de pouvoir acheter de l’eau qui n’est même pas potable à cinq gourdes le seau de 5 gallons, qui se vend parfois plus cher (Us $ 1.00 = 43.00 gourdes ; 1 euro = 58.00 gourdes).

Partout, dans les quartiers populaires et même dans ceux les plus huppés, on rencontre des gens munis de leurs récipients, en brouette ou en voiture, à la recherche d’eau potable.

L’eau, ressource indispensable à la satisfaction de différents besoins (consommation, lessivage, hygiène, cuisson…), est devenue de plus en plus rare dans la deuxième ville du pays, à 248 km au nord de Port-au-Prince.

La situation était devenue encore plus insoutenable durant l’été 2012, qui fait place timidement à l’automne.

La hausse de la température a fait augmenter les besoins de consommation quotidienne en eau, racontent plusieurs habitants.

Face à cette situation, l’administrateur départemental de la direction nationale d’eau potable et d’assainissement (Dinepa), Rico Gédéus, fait état d’un sabotage des tuyaux en réparation par des individus recycleurs de ferraille.

Il signale également un tarissement des nappes d’eau, dans les mornes du Haut du Cap, conséquence du déboisement et de la prolifération des constructions anarchiques.

La Dinepa œuvre actuellement dans le système d’adduction d’eau potable du Cap-Haïtien, notamment sur les tuyaux conducteurs et les réservoirs.

Ces travaux viseraient une satisfaction graduelle en fourniture du service d’alimentation en eau à la population du centre-ville du Cap, en attendant une amélioration du système pour pouvoir alimenter les autres sections de la commune, selon l’administration departementale de la Dinepa.

Source: AlterPresse

Lisez aussi:
– La ville des Gonaïves sevrée par l’Orepa: Trois mois sans eau courante