Town/City:
|
Port-of-Spain
|
State/Province:
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none
|
Country:
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Trinidad and Tobago
|
Latitude/Longitude:
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10.5N 61.5W
|
Information supplied by
Vidjaya L. Ramkhalawan
vidjaya@hotmail.com
1235 Military Trail J-4-H, Scarborough Ontario M1C 1A3 Canada
Dated Sun Nov 28 08:45:23 1999 |
Information Topics:
City Description:
Trinidad is the southern most Caribbean island, located off the north east
coast of Venezuela. Trinidad has a total area of 4828 sq.km (1864 sq.miles).
The island is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean in the north, the Pacific
Ocean to the east, the Columbus Channel in the south and the Gulf of Paria
in the west. There are three major mountain chains in Trinidad: the Nothern
Range, which extends from the north western most end of the island to the
northeasten end, the Central Range and the Southern Range, located at the
southeastern end of the island. Trinidad and Tobago is located south of
the hurricane belt. During the hurricane season, the Nothern Range acts
as a protective barrier, minimizing any hurricane effects on the island.
Trinidad and Tobago has an estimated population of 1,300,00. The official
language is English. The capital city of Trinidad is Port-of-Spain. In
the 1970's the largest contributor to the economy in Trinidad and Tobago
was the oil and petroleum industry. However, since then Trinidad and Tobago's
economy has diversified and become more industrialized with the establishment
of industries such as gas, iron and steel, methanol and tourism (http://www.visittnt.com).
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Climate:
Trinidad and Tobago both have tropical climates. the maximum temperature
in trinidad is 32 C (89 F), however, due to the northeast trade winds Tobago's
temperature is a bit lower. Both islands experience a dry season during
the months of January to May and a wet season during the months of June
to December. The annual rainfall in Trinidad is approximately 200 cm (40
inches) (http://www.visittnt.com).
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Basic Hydrogeology:
Trinidad lies on the plate boundary between South American and Caribbean
plates,hence, Trinidad is in an earthquake zone (www.caribbeansupersite.com/region/geology.htm).
Thus, Trinidad's geology comprises of folde and faulted sediments and low-grade
metamorphic focks. Fissured limestone in the northwestern area of the Nothern
Range allows the development of small springs. Alluvial fill deposits in
the metamorphic rock of these valleys forms coastal aquifers. As alluvial
fans at the mouths of the valleys coalesce, a series of aquifers known
as the Nothern Gravels are formed (Home, October 5th-11th, 1980). Located
to the east of the Nothern Gravels are the Port-of-Spain Gravels. The aquifers
consists of gravel fan, limestone beds and alluvial deposits consisting
of interbedded sand and gravel with boulders and clay The Port-of-Spain
aquifer is a coastal aquifer, which is open ended to and is in direct with
the Gulf-of-Paria. This aquifer consists of gravel beds, which are over
91.4 m (300 feet)deep in the low-lying are of Port-of-Spain. "The gravel
beds of the Port-of-Spain aquifer are extremely porous and act as a storage
for the wells sunk into it" (Water And Sewage Authority, 1998). Discharge
takes place primarily along the coastline (B.Beckles, personal interview).
Recharge occurs via direct infiltration from the surface during the wet
season and from lateral flow via the river valleys crossing the aquifers
(Water And Sewage Authority, 1998).
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Water Use:
Port-of-Spain currently receives approximately 19 million gallons of groundwater
per day. The primary source (approximately 10.2 million gallons of groundwater
per day) is from the Caroni Arena surface water treatment plant located
to the south of Port-of-Spain (B. Beckles, personal interview).
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Groundwater Issues:
Groundwater is affected by contamination, urban and industrial wastes and
other anthropogenic wastes. Reduction and shortage of groundwater supply
is due to the demands of a developing town and its surrounding area.
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Groundwater Problems:
Pollution of the groundwater by illegal dumping of sewage and industrial
waste increases the hardness and ion concentration in the water. As the
shallow alluvial fill and fan aquifers are overpumped, the seawater moves
inland, i.e. salt-water intrusion occurs (United Nations, 1980). This intrusion
is responsible for the increase in the ionic concentrations in the well
water (Home, October 5th-11th, 1980).
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Solutions:
In Trinidad and Tobago there are twelve public wastewater treatment plants,
operated by the Water And Sewage Authority of Trinidad and Tobago, and
150 private plants.The total treatment capacity of the public plants is
89,466 m3/day. The public plant in Port-of-Spain treats the
largest volume (66,673 m3/day)of wastewater (Water And Sewage
Autority,1998). The salt-water intrusion has been recorded and is at present
being monitored (B. Beckles, personal interview).
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References and Other Author(s):
Milne-Home, William A, "Geological Aspects of the Management of Water Quality
in
some Coastal Aquifers of Trinidad", Regional Seminar on Water Resources
Assessment,
Development and Management in Small Oceanic Islands of the Caribbean
and West Atlantic,
Bridgetown, Barbados, October 5th-11th, 1980
United Nations Commonwealth Science Council, "Caribbean Small Islands
Water Resources
Assessment Development Management", Seminar on Small Island Water Problems,
Bridgetown,
Barbodos, October 6th-11th, 1980
Water And Sewage Authority of Trinidad and Tobago; Water Resources Agency,
"Assessment
of Potential From the Queen's Park Savannah Aquifer", Techical Report,
December 1998.
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Contacts:
Island Connoisseur: (www.caribbeansupersite.com/region/geology.htm), 1999
Tourism and Industrial Development Company of Trinidad and Tobago, Limited
(http://www.visittnt.com), 1999
Water And Sewage Authority of Trinidad and Tobago
Water Resources Authority Valsyn
St.Joseph Trinidad, West Indies
Telephone: (868) 662-2302
Fax: (868) 663-9117
E-mail: wra@trinidad.net
U. Maharaj, Manager
Brian Beckles, Geologist
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