THE EDITOR, Sir:PERMIT ME space to challenge the European hotel chains on the method of water storage being implemented in most if not all of their hotels i.e. underground cisterns directly beneath the main structure in most cases.
The civilised world has long abandoned the storage of water in concrete underground cisterns for the following reasons:
These cisterns cannot be totally drained, therefore any extraneous matter such as dead rats and other vermin which is trapped, remains.
These tanks cannot be easily inspected.
In the event of a fire and simultaneous loss of power the water stored cannot be accessed for suppression purposes.
Leaks are not easily detected thus resulting in both water and energy loss.
These installations would not have been accepted anywhere in North America and some of our Caribbean islands. They present a health hazard, the practice is primitive and overall it is poor engineering.
I'm very surprised that the parish councils, The Ministry of Health and the fire department have approved this storage method.
I am, etc.,
OSWALD SEYMOUR JP
T.M.G. Caribbean Ltd.
(Water & Wastewater
Technologists)
Kingston
