By BARBARA WALKIN

Senior FN Reporter

barbara@nasguard.com

Daniel Murray, a resident of Man-O-War Circle is fed up with a water contamination problem that he said has existed for years in the area where he and his family resides.

"Since Hurricanes Frances and Jeanne, the problem has gotten worse," said Murray, noting that he contacted the Grand Bahama Utility Company (GBUC) on more than one occasion about the "filthy water."

"This is simply a horrible situation and my family is suffering because of it," he added.

Murray recalled that in 1998, the Utility Company changed a section, (half) of the pipes laid under the road where he lives.

"But," he claimed, "they neglected to change the other half of the pipe that they knew was deteriorating."

Murray said that since last year, the discolouration of the water has gotten worse and a continuous amount of calls have been made to the Water Department.

He admitted that the executives at the Utility Company accepted there was a problem, that they knew of the situation and had promised they were going to rectify it.

Meanwhile, Murray, who began conducting his own investigations, discovered that the pipes that run through his street were the original pipes put down in Freeport since the 1950s to service the Lucayan Beach staff quarters.

"Not only was it put down in the 50s but it was the (From Page 1)

wrong pipe," he alleged. "There was no cement lining on the inside of it to stop rust from coming in the water," he said.

"I have complained for a year and a half about the horrible red, rusty colour that comes out of our water. They promised that something was going to be done, nothing ever happened."

Murray noted that the situation is so bad that every morning he has to let the water runs for long periods, before his wife and children are able to take a bath.

"And, I see them doing work on newly developed places and I wonder what's the matter with us, why can't we get this simple situation rectified?"

Murray said, it is a simple fix. "Change the pipe, that's basically all I'm asking them to do. Just change the pipe so that I don't have to incur any more cost because of the rust."

For the family man, having to change his water heater, his toilets and kitchen sinks as a result of the rust, has become costly.

"And I just don't feel I have to incur the cost, especially when I'm paying for the water. I've contacted the Water Department they keep promising, but nothing has been done."

Murray is demanding a speedy solution to this matter. "I cannot even wash my clothes because of the rust that comes into the water.

"Everything that we put into the washing machine that is white ends up red. I just can't live like this anymore, I have a little child. I have a wife that anytime the water gets horrible, she cannot bathe for a few days till it clears up."

He noted that it literally take days for the water to clear up.

The matter is aggravated he added, when there is a power outage or heavy rainfall.

"However, the bottom line is, I have a situation that needs to be resolved as quickly as possible. I need the relative authorities to get on it and do something," argued Murray, holding a sample of the water that resembled apple juice.

Van Johnson, assistant manager at GBUC admitted that Murray called in and complained about his situation, and that there is a section of the pipe that needs to be changed.

Johnson added that the designs are in, the quantities are being checked and shortly, the contractor will be in possession of the work order.

"We are working on the matter," stressed Johnson.

BAD WATER — Daniel Murray, a resident of Man-O-War Circle holds a sample of the discoloured, brownish red water that runs from his pipes almost every morning. Murray said he is fed up with the problem and needs the Grand Bahama Utility Company to move swiftly to resolve it. (Staff photo by BARBARA WALKIN)