Landrith Isaac, Assistant Water Engineer at the St. Kitts Water Department, is attending a two-week program in India to enhance his knowledge and expertise in water sewage treatment. The program provides a comprehensive understanding of crafting innovative and environmentally friendly water and sewage treatment solutions. It will equip Isaac with the necessary skills and knowledge to find creative ways to address the local water shortage.
Isaac has been with the St. Kitts Water Services Department for six months, but in that short time, he has found a community of supporters. His superiors supported his decision to attend the certificate course Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilizers Limited offers in Mumbai, India, with the support of the Indian government.
The course is open to applicants from 160 countries in junior or middle-level positions focusing on water conservation or sewage treatment techniques and allied sectors. Applicants are also required to have a bachelor’s degree. Isaac, who earned a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering, felt honoured to be among the 25 successful applicants.
Water sewage treatment has emerged as a critical issue worldwide as the demand for freshwater continues to rise and the impact of climate change becomes increasingly palpable. Speaking to the Communications Office in the Ministry of Public Infrastructure et al. on February 6, 2024, Mr. Isaac said water sewage treatment methods might initially benefit the agricultural sector of St. Kitts and Nevis given the nation’s renewed focus on agriculture and its thrust to reduce its food import bill by 25% by 2025.
As a native of Cayon, St. Kitts, Isaac has first-hand knowledge of how scarcity of potable water can affect households and communities. He also intricately understands the nature of the work that engineers like him must do to ensure that communities like his have steady fresh water supplies.
As Isaac immerses himself in this transformative experience, he is learning about the fundamentals of water treatment, sewage treatment methods, sludge management, water pollutants, and their environmental effects. He participates in interactive lectures, group exercises, case studies, and visits to factories, research institutes, and city municipal corporations.
He shares ideas, experiences, and best practices with colleagues, lecturers, and professionals from multiple countries and cultures while considering how best to implement them here in St. Kitts and Nevis. After the course ends on February 10, 2024, he will return to St. Kitts and Nevis, where he plans to share his knowledge with colleagues at the St. Kitts Water Services Department.