What was implemented as a temporary means of providing potable water to the island of New Providence remained the most cost effective solution for over 30 years. Since 1976, approximately 54% of all the water used in the public drinking water system on New Providence Island came from groundwater barged to the island from North Andros well field on Andros Island by the Water and Sewerage Corporation. By 2004, approximately five million US gallons of the nine million US gallons needed to serve an area of more than 30,000 consumers on a daily basis, was transported to New Providence daily via two barges, the Titus and the Dolphin. The remainder of the water supply came from groundwater wells located on New Providence Island.
New Providence Island incurred a cost per thousand gallons shipped of US$5.84, which included fuel costs as well as the operating costs of two onshore facilities owned by the Water and Sewerage Corporation, being the production facility on Andros Island and the receiving facility on New Providence Island.
The transportation process faced ongoing challenges of weather delays and mechanical problems, accounting for lost operating time of approximately 25 and 15 days per year respectively. Reliability of supply became a major concern in November, 2004 when the larger of the two vessels, the Titus, experienced mechanical problems that lasted for several months. The resulting water shortage escalated to the point of the supply in certain areas being completely cut off.
Additionally, ensuring that the quality of the water received was difficult, as the risk of contamination by seawater or other contaminants increased during shipping9. As time passed and the water demand grew, the ground water sources were also over-utilised, degrading the overall quality of the water entering the public system. Shane Gibson, The Minister for Housing and National Insurance, is quoted as saying “It [the island] has suffered for decades from an inadequate public water supply in terms of both quality and quantity”.