Hon Arden McLean Minister of Communications and Works	Tom van Zanten Deputy Director of the Water Authority	Bob Robler Operations Manager of the Water Authority

Residents and businesses in the Walkers Road area of George Town is expected to have increased water capacity and improved reliability following the installation of a 12-inch pipeline by the Water Authority.

The government agency said this week that it completed work on the upgrade of the main pipeline on Walkers Road, replacing the original eight-inch pipeline with a 12-inch pipeline.

The extensive project, which commenced in July 2007, with an expected completion of 31 May 2008, was completed on 15 April 2008, six weeks ahead of schedule.

Tom van Zanten, Deputy Director of the Water Authority, said the upgrade was necessary.

“The main pipeline that runs along Walkers Road was installed in the late 1980s and since that time the demand for water has increased ten-fold. The original eight-inch pipe was no longer sufficient to deliver water efficiently and reliably.”

Due to the expected duration of the project, which spanned the length of Walkers Road, between Hospital Road and the South Sound junction, the upgrade work was carried out in sections to minimise the inconvenience to residents, motorists and pedestrians.

In addition, to further minimise the inconvenience, the Water Authority performed most of the upgrade work at night, between the hours of 10:00 pm and 6:00 am, and the open trenches were backfilled at the end of each shift.

“We would like to express our sincere thanks to the operations staff for working at night during these past nine months,” said Bob Robler, Operations Manager.

“We also thank the motoring public and residents in the area for their patience and understanding while we carried out this work.”

“I applaud the Water Authority for being pro-active in their planning and approach to this system upgrade,” said Hon Arden McLean, Minister responsible for the Water Authority. “Not only did they complete the project ahead of schedule, but they have clearly demonstrated consideration for the general public by taking steps to minimise the inconvenience to the many residents of the busy Walkers Road area.”

The Walkers Road pipeline replacement project is part of the Water Authority’s ten-year capital plan to expand and upgrade its water and wastewater infrastructure.

“With the completion of Walkers Road, we have now begun work on Fairbanks Road, an upgrade that should be completed in approximately six weeks,” Mr Robler said.

The Water Authority is the statutory body responsible for the management of water and wastewater in the Cayman Islands.