Repairs have begun on the southern spillway at Potworks Dam, which Utilities Minister Melford Nicholas says has been broken for more than 35 years.

Speaking on Taking Stock on Nov. 10, Nicholas said the work is intended to improve the reservoir’s ability to retain rainfall runoff and restore more of its water storage potential.

He said Cuban engineers working on individual contracts are assisting with the repairs, alongside efforts to improve water pressure and distribution.

Nicholas said he had wanted the spillway repaired before heavy rainfall could interrupt the work. He planned to inspect the site on Thursday, Nov. 12, and expressed hope that the improvements would allow the reservoir to capture the maximum amount of water by the next rainy season.

However, he acknowledged that available funding constrained the pace of the work.

“I have to work within that constraint,” he said.

The discussion also raised questions about whether accumulated silt could be removed to increase the dam’s capacity.

Nicholas said technical advice he had received warned that disturbing the material sealing the basin could allow water to escape through the limestone beneath it.

After a caller challenged that assessment and described changes he had observed in the reservoir over the years, Nicholas offered to arrange a visit with the engineers to examine the concerns.

“I am not afraid to be convinced by evidence,” he said.

He suggested that a geological study could help determine whether material could safely be removed from the southern section without damaging the seal.

Nicholas did not disclose the cost of the spillway repairs or give a firm completion date.

This article was originally published by Antigua News Room. Read the original article here: Repairs begin on Potworks Dam spillway after more than 35 years of damage.