Fifth Annual Conference 2022

Honourable Marvin Gonzales
Minister of Public Utilities

2022 – Connecting the Dots…Harnessing Technology and Innovation.

The Adopt A River Programme (AARP) hosted its 5th Annual River Conference on Tuesday March 29 th 2022 under the theme “Connecting the Dots…Harnessing Technology and Innovation’. This year’s event featured innovative technologies for the efficient use and management of our water resources. In keeping with our mandate of promoting and supporting the sustainable management of our water resources and protection of our watersheds, the conference exposed our stakeholders to viable and accessible solutions for managing our limited water resources.

Feature Presenter: Dr. Kegan Farrick
Lecturer, UWI

The Conference proceedings included various presenters who showed how technology and innovation is being utilized in various spheres, inclusive of the private and public sectors. Our keynote speaker was Dr. Kegan Farrick of the University of the West Indies, St Augustine, Head of the Geography Department and a Hydrologist specializing in catchment hydrology. Dr. Farrick highlighted the use of stable isotope application and geometrical techniques in understanding water movement and stream flow. Ms. Marissa McMillan of the Water Resources Agency (WRA), provided an overview of the Community Flood Early Warning System Project (CFEWS), which aims to monitor and measure water flow for early flood warning and mitigation. The Adopt A River Programme’s Data Officer Mr. Allister Brizan, who developed the CFEWS App, demonstrated how the App is utilized for data collection and needs assessments post flood events.

Don Rambarran
Civil and Coastal Engineer, Ministry of Works

Nature-based solutions to help protect both our environment and more specifically our watersheds were offered by a few of our speakers. Civil and Coastal Engineer Mr. Don Rambarran attached to the Coastal Protection Unit, Ministry of Works, spoke of shoreline stabilization projects being conducted at various locations throughout the country to combat coastal flooding and sea level rise associated with climate change. Proceeding inland, we heard from Drainage Engineer also from the Ministry of Works, Mr. Muhammed Baksh, who spoke of the innovative techniques and infrastructural systems utilized by the Ministry for water management and flood mitigation.

Balraj Ragoo
Agricultural Assistant III, Forestry Division

Nature-based solutions for land and water management, was shared by our partners at the Forestry Division, Ministry of Agriculture, Lands and Fisheries, Conservator of Forests Mr. Denny Dipchansingh and Agricultural Assistant lll Mr. Balraj Ragoo. Featured in their presentation were techniques such as terracing, check dams and intercropping. Representing the IAMovement and Vetiver TT Ecological Engineering Solutions Ltd, was Co-founder and Managing Director Mr. Jonathan Barcant, who shared insights into the use of the vetiver system as a naturebased technology for slope stabilization and land management. The vetiver system can be combined with traditional technologies such as retaining walls and gabion baskets for infrastructural support for riverbanks and slopes in residential, commercial, and public spaces.

Other notable highlights of the conference came from Ms. Faariah Khan, one of the Directors at Green Age Farms located at Endeavour, Chaguanas. Ms. Khan noted that with the ever-growing concern for the conservation of our limited water resources, water reuse has become paramount to sustainable living and food production. Thus, with this premise, Green Age Farms provides a simple, sustainable, and efficient method of water usage in agriculture and food production through the use of hydroponics systems. Since hydroponics use less water to grow produce than conventional farming methods, it can be utilized by homeowners, increasing food production and self sufficiency.

Efficient water-use and management, natural and technological tools, and
the future of building design creating a balance of all factors, was beautifully demonstrated by Mr. Devanand Ragbir, a Mechanical Engineer of 20 years and co-founder of the Trinidad and Tobago Green Building Council. Mr. Ragbir spoke of the Council’s work as they advocate for more sustainable construction, which incorporates water reuse and recycling systems in both public and private buildings. These elements were demonstrated by the construction of the first LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Building in Trinidad, at Queens Park East Port Of Spain.