Sixteen welders have been trained up in connecting pipes as part of the island’s wastewater infrastructure upgrades, the public works minister announced.

Lieutenant-Colonel David Burch said the accreditation through McElroy Manufacturing had been arranged with the Bermuda Land Development Company.

Local contractors were trained in connecting high-density polythene pipe, which will be used to replace ageing networks such as those on the former Base Lands at Southside.

Colonel Burch said Phase 1 of the upgrades would require more than 100,000ft or 19 miles of HDPE pipe to be welded.

Just three companies on the island were equipped to carry out the work previously.

Of 24 participants in the course this summer, 16 were certified in either manual operation or the full McElroy certification, which is valid two years.

Colonel Burch said it was “set to become the new local industry standard for installing buried water and wastewater infrastructure”.

“There have been preliminary talks with the Department of Workforce Development and the Bermuda Economic Development Corporation to broaden this training opportunity to more people interested in this industry,” he said.