The General Public of Grand Turk, Salt Cay and South Caicos are hereby
informed of the recent changes made within the Water Undertaking
Department, which was passed at the House of Assembly on 22nd June 2020.
It was necessary for the government to increase the efficiency of the Water
Undertaking office and establish a legal framework that would allow a more
effective operation and service delivery.
Therefore, on the coming into effect of the Bill, the legislation will
support the following:
*(a) *the functions and powers of the Director who shall be responsible for
the management and administration of the Department;
*(b) *the powers to abstract water, to fix rates, fees and charges
to collect rates, fees and charges, to require the installation of
meters and to enter premises to provide services;
*(c) *the ability of the Director to diminish, withhold, suspend stop,
turn off or divert the supply of water when the Director thinks fit to
conserve water or to repair the water undertaking;
*(d) *the prohibition of customers from willfully injuring or fraudulently
altering any meter and to prohibit customers from fraudulently connecting
to the water undertaking;
*(e) *the power to disconnect when customers are in arrears;
*(f) *the Director to allow for the payment of large arrears by
installment by agreement in writing, where large arrears owed are—
· over $500 for residential customers; (ii) over $1000 for
commercial customers.
· to provide for a penalty of 5% where any bill remains unpaid;
*(g) *the establishment of a Complaints Board to resolve disputes arising
from a complaint between the Director and a customer.
Customers are also reminded that with effect from 1st July, 2020, the
provision of *“free water”* services under the Government Stimulus Plans in
response to Covid-19 will have expired and water supply will attract a
charged in the normal manner.
As we continue to provide more efficient services, we seek your cooperation
in adherence to the provisions detailed in the Ordinance, and to make every
effort to conserve water, where possible.
Please contact 649-338-3520 Water Undertaking Department for any inquiries
you may have as the relates to the above changes.
