www.cawasa.org - 5th Caribbean Water Operators' Conference 2017 - Programme

1. 5th Caribbean Water
Operators’
Conference
Connecting Water Operators:
Strengthening Utilities
Fort Young Hotel
Roseau,
Commonwealth of Dominica, W.I.
June 29-30, 2017

2. About CAWASA
The Caribbean Water and Sewerage Association Inc., is a regional association of thirteen (13)
water and sewerage utilities in the Caribbean. CAWASA was registered in Saint Lucia in May
2010 as the successor to the Caribbean Basin Water Management ProgrammeInc (CBWMP Inc).
CAWASA Services
Our products and services are many and varied, including a range of operator-focused
activities. These include, but not limited to:
 Employee Development (Training Workshops, Attachments, Internships);
 Operator Certification (Examinations; Remedial Training; Continuing Education;
Certificate Renewal);
 Networking (Sector Collaboration, Publication, Conferences, Internships);
 Advocacy (Policies, Legislations, Regulations);
 Research (Studies, Surveys, Projects, Benchmarking);
 Utility Development (Inspection, Classification, Management Support, Disaster
Management).
The Conference
The CAWASA Water Operators’ Conferenceis designed as a platform for water operatorsto
discuss real issues and practical solutions, as well as cultivating innovations, and inspiring
synergies to address present and future challenges in the Caribbean’s Water and Sewerage
sectors.
The 2017 Water Operators Conference will be held in the Commonwealth of Dominica from
June 29-30, 2017 in collaboration with host Utility, the Dominica Water and Sewerage Company
(DOWASCO).
The theme for this year’s conference: “Connecting Water Operators: Strengthening
Utilities”,invites us to reflect on the critical role operators play in enabling our utilities to
execute their mandates.
We particularly wish to highlight among our operators, the value of networking and the
concept of Water Operators’ Partnerships (i.e. twinning programmes). CAWASA is confident
that Water Operator Partnerships (WOPs) will result in strategic alliances between utilities, that
will redound to professional synergies that will enhance the delivery of water and sewerage
services by the utilities.
The conference is a unique opportunity for Water and Wastewater Operators from the member
utilities to share information and experiences by making technical presentations individually or
jointly highlighting challenges, or achievements in their work.
The conference also provides the operators with an opportunity to assess the potential impact of
the latest technological tools developed in the water and wastewater sector.
A unique feature of the conference is a competition organized for the Operators to test their
competence in areas directly related to their functions. This practical aspect of the conference is

3. intended to provide participants with an opportunity to display their skills and add much
needed excitement to the conference.
Conference Objectives:
 Update the knowledge and skills of water and wastewater operators through interaction
with fellow operators;
 Provide the opportunity to access, view and share the latest ideas in technical
equipment, technology, products and services with suppliers;
 Provide operators with the opportunity to share their experiences in preparing for the
Operators Certification Examinations;
 Provide the operators an opportunity to showcase their presentation skills through
Professional presentations and competitive activities;
 Provide the operators an opportunity to showcase their technical skills through the
Operators Competition.
Who will attend?
This event will bring together engineers, water and wastewater operators; water and
wastewater laboratory analysts, stakeholders and other water industry personnel. Operators
may earn up to 12 hours continuing education units (CEUs) for the two days for certificate
renewal purposes.

4. Preliminary Programme:
DAY 1
TIME ACTIVITY
8:00 am – 10:15 am OPENING CEREMONY
8:00 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. Registration
8:30 a.m. – 8:35 a.m. Call to Order: Mr. Ignatius Jean, Executive Director, CAWASA
8:35 a.m. – 8:50 a.m. Welcome Remarks: Mr. Louis Patrickhill, Chairman, Dominica Water &
Sewerage Co. (DOWASCO), Dominica
8:50 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. Remarks: Mr. Christopher Husbands, President, CAWASA
9:00 a.m. – 09:30 a.m. Keynote Speaker: Mr. L. O’Reilly Lewis, Division Chief of the Economic
Infrastructure Division, Caribbean Development Bank (CDB)
09:30 a.m. – 09:45 a.m. Remarks: Hon. Reginald Austrie, Minister for Housing, Lands and Water
Resources Management, Dominica
09:45 a.m. – 09:55 a.m. Vote of Thanks: Mr. Bernard Ettinoffe, General Manager, DOWASCO,
Dominica.
10:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m. NETWORKING BREAK & EXHIBITION
10:15a.m. – 1:30 p.m. SESSION 1: WATER OPERATORS’ PARTNERSHIPS
10:15 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Guiding Principles of Water Operators’ Partnerships: Dr. Jose Luis Martin
Bordes, GWOPA
11:00 a.m. – 11:20 a.m. CAWASA’s Role in Establishing WOPs in the Caribbean: Mr. Ignatius Jean,
Executive Director, CAWASA.
11:20 a.m. – 11:50 a.m. The Case of WASCO, St Lucia and Hamburg Wasser WOP,Germany, on
Non-Revenue Water (NRW): Mr. Shawn Jules, WASCO
11:50 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. Water Resource Management Initiatives (CARPHA/GIZ-CATS):
Mr. Lyndon Forbes Robertson, Head, Environmental Health & Sustainable
Development, (CARPHA)
12:15p.m. – 12:30 p.m. Discussion
12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. LUNCH
1:30 p.m. – 2:45 p.m. SESSION 2: OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY
1:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. Occupational Hygiene: Mr. Lesmond Magloire – OSH Consultant
2:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. Chlorine Safety: Mr. Lesmond Magloire - OSH Consultant
2:30 p.m. – 2:45 p.m. Discussion
2:45 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. SESSION 3: DISASTER AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
2:45 p.m. – 3:25 p.m. Water Operator Challenges in the Aftermath of a Disaster
Case 1: Mr. Kendel Durand, DOWASCO, Dominica;
CASE 2: Mr. Elvin Roberts, CWSA, St Vincent & the Grenadines
3:25 p.m. – 3:40 p.m. NETWORKING BREAK & EXHIBITION
3:40 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Emergency Recovery Support – The Case of the Antigua Public Utilities
Authority (APUA) and the Dominica Water & Sewerage Company
(DOWASCO): Mr. Mervin Jackson, APUA, Antigua & Barbuda
4:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. Discussion & Wrap Up – Day One
7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. NETWORKING RECEPTION & EXHIBITION

5. DAY 2
Time Activity
8:30 a.m. – 1:00p.m. SESSION 4: CAPACITY BUILDING & DEVELOPMENT
8:30 a.m. – 8:50 a.m. Professional Operator: Buying into the Importance of Knowledge -
Association of Boards of Certification (ABC): Dr. Cheryl Capron,
Distribution Commissioner for the Certification Commission for
Environmental Professionals (C2EP)
08:50 a.m. – 10:10 a.m. Environmental Risk Assessment in Water Storage and DistributionSystems -
Dr. Lashun K. Thomas, Assistant Professor & Program Coordinator,
Environmental Engineering, University of Arkansas
10:10 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Preparing for the Operators Certification Examinations – Mr. Irwin Gill (I G
Training & Consultancy)
10:30 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. NETWORKING BREAK& EXHIBITION
10:45 a.m. – 11:15 a.m. Coping with Operators Exams: Operator Experience - Mr. Jefferson
Durand, DOWASCO
11:15 a.m. – 11:35 a.m. Faecal Sludge Management in the Caribbean – “Sun, Sea, Sand and the S-
Factor”: Ms. Shervon Ifill & Mr. Irwin Gill
11:35 a.m. – 11:55 p.m. Laboratory Best Practice - Experiences of The Water Authority, The
Cayman Islands: Ms. Marcela Martinez-Ebanks, Laboratory Manager,
WAC
11:55 p.m. – 12:10 p.m. Smart Meter Business Transformation – The Case of the Barbados Water
Authority (BWA): Mr. Elvin Jordan, Project Coordinator, BWA
12:10 p.m. – 12:40 p.m. New and Emerging Technologies : Sundry Suppliers
12:40 p.m, – 1:00 p.m. QUESTION & ANSWER
1:00 p.m. – 2:00 pm LUNCH BREAK
2:00 pm – 5:00 pm SESSION 5: OPERATORS COMPETITION
Venue: DOWASCO Plant, Rawles Lane, Goodwill, Dominica
 Category 1: Pipe Laying and Joining
 Category 2: Service Connection
 Category 3: Installation of Valves
5:00 pm – 5:30 pm Prize-Giving Ceremony
Change of Topics, Substitution of Speakers and Cancellation of Presentations
With reference to the Programme, there may be changes with regard to the Topics, Speakers and
Presenters. These changes may be made at short notice prior to the Event. CAWASA reserves the
right to change scheduled speakers and to cancel any scheduled activity. Should this happen,
CAWASA’s liability is limited to the refund of the Registration fee only. MANENT