Collecting rainwater on our white stepped roofs is one of the proudest Bermudian traditions dating back to our early settlers in the 17th century.
But while this age-old resourcefulness remains impressive even in today’s rapidly advancing world, it’s far from perfect for the modern-day homeowner.
If it doesn’t rain for weeks, our tanks run dry – meaning we have to join a sometimes lengthy queue for the costly water trucking service.
That’s where, for many residents, Watlington Water comes in.
“Our customers just have to check their tank levels. If they need water, they don’t have to call the trucker, they don’t have to wait for the rain, just open a valve and top up their tank,” said Jon Burull, CEO of Bermuda Waterworks Limited, which operates Watlington Water.
“You can top up your water tank for $34.31 per 1,000 gallons compared to $120 for a trucked load.”
Watlington Water was founded on the back of a dream by Sir Henry Watlington, early in the 20th century.
Sir Henry, also known as Harry, had a vision of tapping groundwater sources to supply the island with fresh water to help it cope with the burgeoning demands of the tourism industry.
According to Harry’s Dream, a book about Watlington Water’s history written by Jonathan Bell and Roger Crombie in 2008, Sir Henry faced a long battle to set up his water supply company.
His plan to test Bermuda’s groundwater resources was rejected by the House of Assembly in 1924, so he ended up testing the water himself. The results were so pleasing, he formed a new plant on Parsons Lane at the personal cost of £80,000 in the 1930s.
Water was processed at the plant before being piped to a reservoir at Prospect, and was then transported via pipelines to Hamilton, the Princess Hotel and Elbow Beach Hotel on the South Shore.
A network of pipelines was developed throughout the city and along the South Shore.
As the company continued to expand, a reverse osmosis plant was set up in 1994 on the North Shore, Devonshire, abstracting water from seawater wells and removing the impurities to produce drinking water.
The company originally focused on supplying hotels, who had great need for water as the tourism industry started to boom.
Roger Todd, CEO designate at Bermuda Waterworks, said: “Over time, there has been a shift in tourism and some of the major hotels have closed. At the same time, condominium developments, Airbnbs and guest houses have increased.”
“Expanding on the mains piping that was originally to the city and west hotels, now we are servicing a lot more residential customers.”
Several more reverse osmosis plants have been added to the Devonshire complex over time, while a 3-million-gallon storage tank has been built in Southampton to cope with higher demand; pipes and other infrastructure have been continuously upgraded.
The company now supplies about 3,200 customers from its base in Devonshire all the way west to Somerset Village. The Bermuda Government operates a separate pipe-water network that covers the eastern parishes of the island, using water from their production plants at Tynes Bay and in St George’s.
Mr Todd noted that many water tanks are not big enough to meet people’s needs without a top up water service.
“If you have a ranch-style house, or maybe a small Bermuda-style cottage, your catchment is probably sufficient,” Mr Todd said.
“But as land has become a premium and condos have become a staple in Bermuda, now you have multi-level, multi-occupancy dwellings with a single catchment.
“With most condo developments built today, the size of the roof catchment is not sufficient to service all the residents from rainwater alone. Some condominiums rely on Watlington Water on a weekly basis as a top-up service.”
Many people have invested in brackish water wells on their property, to supply well water for laundry and flushing toilets.
“But those wells, you have to pay to build them and to maintain them,” Mr Todd said. “If the well collapses or the pump fails it can be a costly repair.”
“With Watlington Water, you don’t have to do that. You just subscribe to the service, and you open your valve at the meter when you need it.”
Bermuda Waterworks Ltd is continuously expanding its metered water network by connecting private estates to its piped mains supply.
While Watlington Water is a high-quality drinking water, homeowners must also ensure their roof and tank are clean, particularly after a storm.
“Watlington is only a top-up supply and blends with the water in your tank,” Mr Todd explained.
“Prior to a storm, some homeowners take precaution and plug their roof drains to prevent salt spray and vegetation from entering their water tank. If you don’t plug your drains before a storm, you could end up with foliage in your tank.
“Decaying organic matter in you water could create bacterial issues. So, you have to be very careful to maintain you roof, storage tank and plumbing system according to Public Health guidelines and best practice.
“Contrary to some old wives’ tales, a slate roof does not filter water.”
This is one reason for the success of another division of Bermuda Waterworks Ltd: bottled Pure Water.
Mr Todd said: “People may have potable water that is safe to drink but has an undesirable taste. You’d be happy to shower with it, do your laundry, flush the toilet, but when it comes to drinking, they prefer the taste and assurance of our premium quality bottled water.”
This doesn’t necessarily mean lumbering those heavy water bottles across the grocery store car park.
Bermuda Waterworks offers island-wide delivery service to homes and businesses, a drive-through service, and a self-service refill station open 24 hours a day at its Devonshire headquarters.
To set up an account for Pure Water, visit bwl.bm or email purewater@bwl. bm. Specify the frequency and volume of bottles you want delivered and you’ll be added to the delivery route. Simply leave your empties outside and they will be replaced by new ones.
To sign up for Watlington Water, visit bwl.bm and fill in the application forms to see if your area is included in the network.
