ANGUILLA–A project funded by the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) is underway at Sandy Ground. It is aimed at controlling the outflow and inflow of water in the Road Bay salt pond. It will consist of a floodgate that will open automatically when water in the pond reaches a certain height and allow the water into the sea.
There will be a concrete weir to allow for the overtopping of the drainage channel in the event of a flood. The weir will also house non-return valves and a sluice gate, both of which will be used to control the flow of water during normal rain events. There will be three two-foot-diameter non-return flap valves which will only open when the level of water on the pond side is greater than the level on the sea side. They do not allow water to enter the pond from the sea. The sluice gate can also be opened manually if necessary or if sea water is needed in the pond. Large boulders are to be placed against the sides of the channel; these will be on the south side of the channel and on either side of the weir.
Another aspect of the project is a flood warning system for the villagers. This is an automated flood warning system made up of rain gauges, water level gauges, data loggers, telemetry and a cloud-base system that will warn the public of any imminent flood.
Funding is from the European Union through the OECS Global Climate Change Alliance (GCCA) Project on Climate Change Adaptation and Sustainable Land Management in the Eastern Caribbean Region.
The budget for the first phase of the project is approximately 422,571 euros. The contractor is Windward Roads and the general contractor is Anguilla Roads and Construction. Windward Roads specialises in infrastructure including civil works, design and build, general construction, harbour and marine construction, maintenance and management. It was founded in 1986 and is active in St. Maarten, Saba and St. Eustatius.
Further phases are planned which will include an earthen dyke around the southern, eastern and northern perimeter of the pond to reduce the risk of flooding of back yards, also the culvert crossing will be raised and changed to a single span culvert.
Source: The Daily Herald https://www.thedailyherald.sx/islands/67245-floodgate-project-under-way-for-sandy-ground
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