Please review and confirm your understanding and agreement to the terms and conditions of service under which the Barbados Agricultural Development & Marketing Corporation (BADMC) shall facilitate crop irrigation service for agricultural use to approved Applicant, hitherto referred to as the User-Client.
1. BADMC will provide untreated water to the User-Client for crop irrigation purposes only.
2. BADMC will source and install a crop irrigation system for the User-Client comprising the following components:
a. a main hand-valve to turn on/off the water supply in emergencies (and it shall not be routinely used by the user-client to turn on/off of the water supply);
b. a water-meter to monitor water use;
c. a meter-box to help protect the water-meter; a take-off pipe to which the on-farm irrigation system and the user’s own hand-valve (for routing turn on & off) shall be connected.
The items outlined above shall, at all times, remain the property of BADMC.
3. BADMC will undertake all reasonable effort necessary to provide a reliable and continuous supply of irrigation water to the Applicant.
4. BADMC reserves the right to restrict or temporarily interrupt the supply of irrigation water, in terms of the time period(s) and water volume(s) available, to the User-Client at any time and for any reason, including but not limited to:
a. Low water availability due to drought or dry season conditions.
b. Risk of damage to irrigation network infrastructure.
c. System damage and/or leaks.
d. Mechanical failure.
e. Power failure.
5. Irrigation service interruptions may occur at any time and may last for periods exceeding four (4) days. As such, the User shall be responsible for sourcing and implementing a suitably reliable back-up irrigation solution (e.g. water storage tank) to be approved by BADMC.
6. BADMC shall not be held liable by the User-Client for any loss or damage occasioned by restrictions on the use of water or water outages.
7. BADMC will undertake all reasonable efforts to provide untreated water of a generally acceptable quality for crop irrigation; this water will not be treated for bacteria or otherwise modified.
8. The User-Client shall make provisions to assure supply of irrigation water to his/her/its particular requirements (e.g. use of filters, chlorinators, salinity detection, etc.), as water quality may fluctuate subject to the approval of BADMC.
9. The User-Client shall duly advise his/her/its employees that the irrigation water is untreated and solely for irrigation purposes and not for human or animal consumption. BADMC shall not accept liability for loss or injury resulting from inappropriate utilisation of the irrigation water provided.
10. The User-Client and Land-Owner shall authorises officers from BADMC to enter in or upon the Land at any time, without prior notice, to facilitate reading of the water-meter, to check of the irrigation system, to carry out repairs to the system pipes & equipment, and to verify the adherence of the User-Client to the terms and conditions of this contract.
11. BADMC shall issues bills to the User-Client in respect of irrigation water usage on a monthly basis shall become payable within sixty (60) days from the date of issue. The BADMC will assume bills and notices have been received one week after same have been sent by regular post to the client’s last known place of abode/address. BADMC strongly recommends that the Client-User make independent records of water usage and the User-Client shall not construe a periodic lapse in the delivery of bills as a rationale for non- payment.
12. The User-Client will be charged at the rate of $0.60 cents per cubic meter of irrigation water used, as recorded by the water-meter. All flow recorded by the water-meter will be billed. BADMC reserves the right to vary the rate, as it deems necessary.
13. The BADMC reserves the right to disconnect the water supply or remove the water-meter in the following instances : -
a. Bills are not settled by due date.
b. BADMC determines that the User-Client is indiscriminately utilising irrigation water to the detriment of the latter party.
c. BADMC determines that the User-Client is utilising irrigation water for purposes other agricultural crop production.
d. BADMC records no usage of irrigation water by the User-Client for twelve (12) or more consecutive months.
e. BADMC determines that the User-Client is utilising water in areas outside of the plot of Land for which the installed irrigation system was installed without the prior written approval of BADMC.
f. BADMC reasonably determines that the Client-User and/or his/her/its agents or employee(s) have tampered with the water-meter is tampered with by the user.
14. BADMC shall charge the User-Client relevant irrigation service connection fees, reconnection fees and other fees related to arrears and penalties in accordance with the prevailing Service Fee Structure and other regulations governing provision of former party’s irrigation service.
15. The User-Client shall pay to BADMC all outstanding fees, penalties and arrears in accordance with the requirements of BADMC prior to connection or reconnection.
HEADQUARTERS: Fairy Valley, Christ Church, BB17092 Barbados, West Indies Tel: (246) 428-0250 Fax: (246) 428-0152
BRANCH: Princess Alice Highway, Bridgetown, Barbados, West Indies Tel: (246) 427-5250 Fax: (246) 426-0694
16. BADMC reserves the right to vary its prevailing Service Fee Structure as it deems necessary.
17. This contract between BADMC and the User-Client is not transferable.
18. The BADMC reserves the right to review the above-mentioned terms and conditions from time to time. At least three (3) months’ prior notice will be provided should there be any significant changes or amendments.
19. For the avoidance of doubt, it is hereby agreed that this contact relates to the supply of irrigation water for agricultural crop production and no other purpose.