WITHIN a year of opening its doors, IslandWide Plumbing Ltd. was able to distinguish itself from its competitors, praised by customers for its consistent standard of service.

Company general manager Alleyne Weekes admitted the accolades ? publicly presented in 2005 by magazinein the form of a Best of Bermuda Gold Award ? took the company by surprise but that the service had been delivered with purpose.

"That was our aim from the start," he explained. "But the award came as a shock. We really didn't expect anything like that. But we are here to service our clients in the best way we can. The time will come when there is only new technology available.

"So if we move on it now there won't be a crisis situation when something breaks and the products required to replace it are no longer available. Because of that, we continually try to come up with new technology and advance our staff in training."

IslandWide Plumbing Ltd. started in 2004, one of a trio of businesses which together form the Liquid Group of Companies. The venture represented a first for Mr. Weekes. A certified plumber and water filtration expert, he had previously been employed by others.

"I've been doing plumbing here in Bermuda for 18 years, always for someone else," he explained. "After working with a prior company for 12 years, I saw the need to move on."

Mr. Weekes joined local purification company ClearWater Systems Ltd., where he stayed for four years. Today, that organisation and CoffeeWorks Bermuda Ltd. complete the Liquid Group of Companies with IslandWide Plumbing.

"We offer residential service throughout the island and industrial plumbing as well. It was actually a friend of mine who saw this business advertised for sale in the newspaper, and mentioned it to me," he said, in explaining the purchase from Joseph DeSilva in 2004.

"I saw the need for plumbing services because of the quality of work we were doing at ClearWater Systems."

Mr. Weekes first served as a plumber's apprentice in his native Barbados before receiving certification from Samuel Jackman Presscott Polytechnic, an institution in the Caribbean island.

"It trains all kinds of technicians," he explained. "It's based on English certification which is one of the highest certifications anyone could gain in this part of the world."

That expertise, combined with his years of experience and the fact that IslandWide Plumbing was to be linked to the Liquid Group of Companies, placed him in good entrepreneurial stead, Mr. Weekes felt. However, a vital part to the fledgling company's success was his interest in the many forms of technology now influencing the industry.

"Plumbing in Bermuda is based on a catchment tank system. Water from there is pumped into a pressure tank and distributed to points of use ? showers, faucets and so on. But everything, eventually, has its problems.

"As long as you have fixtures in your home you can expect breakdowns. Nothing lasts forever. Eventually, you will have to call a plumber and things like that generally have to be addressed urgently. Because of that (IslandWide Plumbing) tends to improve on technology where we can."

THE Leader Pump is evidence of that. Created in Italy, it forms an integral part of Mr. Weeke's desire to bring Bermuda in line with the latest plumbing technologies.

"A lot of people are now making pump rooms rather tiny, the smallest area in the house," he said. "We saw the Leader Pump on show in Italy and thought it might be a good product for Bermuda. It takes up a lot less space than the basic plumbing system."

Employees first tested the Leader Pump in their own homes to determine its performance benefits and note any disadvantages, Mr. Weekes said. "We found it works. It allows you to have very high pressure at different points of use. No matter how many faucets are on, the pressure will remain constant.

"Also, with the more traditional type of pump, if your tank runs out of water, the pump still runs continuously. It can cause damage to the pump internally and can also burn the motor. It will cost you a new pump and also new pipe work because the heat distorts it. It melts PVC fittings ? which gives another expense."

In comparison, the Leader Pump has a computer board which enables the pump to shut itself down whenever there is a loss of pressure, he explained.

"If it senses there's no pulling or suction, it shuts itself down. So you've saved yourself the cost of a pump."

A simple reset button will turn the machine back on, once pressure is restored.

THE cost of the Leader Pump gives it an additional advantage. According to Mr. Weekes, a new pump and repairs can see a homeowner shell out somewhere in the region of $1,000.

The Leader Pump costs $899 installed, with labour and the cost of the machine included in the price. It also offers the convenience of space. The device measures approximately 14 by 8 inches ? a huge difference from traditional pumps which typically dominate the pump room.

"It's designed to replace the conventional pump and pressure tank system widely in use here and so far we've had no regrets," he said. "At 50 pounds of pressure, the pump will supply 16 gallons of water per minute ? more than enough for most household and small apartment complexes so tenants will always have a constant supply of water even at times of peak usage."

Customer appreciation of the product and the service at IslandWide Plumbing has worked well for its four employees. Mr. Weekes describes it as "a growing company".

He added that while IslandWide Plumbing does not offer 24-hour service, "if a customer calls at night we will do our best to accommodate their needs". As its name suggests, the company offers its services island-wide.

IslandWide Plumbing is located at 10 Harvey Road, Paget. For more information on the Leader Pump, telephone 236-3388.