MIYA Bahamas Project Manager Mario Tavera, was the recent guest speaker at the weekly meeting of the Rotary Club of New Providence. Tavera, who is recognized as a local authority on water quality and accessibility in New Providence, has led the team that has executed a nearly decade-long strategy funded by the Inter-American Development Bank.
“Rotary International has a well-documented history of pushing the message of water conservation” noted Tavera, “so I’m glad to be have been invited to share details on the work that Miya Bahamas has been doing”.
On March 22, stakeholders marked the annual observance of World Water Day which this year, sought to raise awareness about the need to protect groundwater resources. Here in New Providence, is not the main water resource however according to Tavera the work to protect groundwater sources everywhere is a critical element of all water conservation efforts.
“Though out of sight, groundwater plays an important role in the climate change adaptation process and is often a solution for people without access to safe water” he noted.
The hybrid luncheon which took place on World Water Day featured a virtual presentation chronicling the company’s non-revenue water project.
“Non-revenue water levels are determined by how much revenue is lost to the WSC due to water loss brought on by leaks and other shortfalls” explained Tavera.
Technology upgrades and new protocols implemented by Miya had a near- immediate impact on water efficiency across the island, reducing NRW levels by as much as 71% in simultaneously increasing revenue water intake significantly over the life of the project to date.
“Once we had completed our initial assessments, we
went ahead and implemented proactive leak detection strategies,” Tavera explained to Rotarians. “With the help of rapid repair protocols, to pressure zones and district metered areas, to the design and implementation and a series of system optimizations that included the use of GIS updating as well as the introduction of data management hardware and software”.
For the Rotarians of the RCNP, the invitation extended to Miya Bahamas was in line with the organiztion’s mandate to support activities that provide access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation here at home and across the world. “We were delighted to have Mr. Mario Tavera as a guest speaker, and to inform of the major project undertaken by Miya Bahamas in collaboration with the Water and Sewerage Corporation,” noted club President Lisa Deveaux. “Mr. Tavera’s presentation was insightful, timely, and attendees learned a lot not only about the project but water and sanitation on the whole” she continued.
Tavera during a spirited question and answer segment was also able to offer Rotarians some insights into the future of the ongoing project.
“We are especially proud of the investment we have made in training members of our team,” said Tavera.
“That training” he noted “has been critical to ensuring that this critical work can continue well into the future.” In the interim, Tavera says the company will continue to meet its commitments to the WSC and the government and work to maintain the standard which has been set.
More photo highlights below:
Miya Bahamas Project Manager Mario Tavera was the virtual guest speaker at the weekly meeting of the Rotary Club of New Providence (RCNP). Tavera teamed up with Rotarians this year to help raise awareness of and to commemorate World Water Day
Rotarians paid wrapt attention to the presentation prepared by Miya Bahamas Project Manager Mario Tavera. The company is credited with reversing the trend of non-revenue water in New Providence and improving water quality.
(Photo courtesy of Jason Cooper for Barefoot Marketing)
