Over 6000 Residents to Benefit from Potable Water

Over six thousand residents in surrounding communities of Ewarton and Mount Rosser, St. Catherine, now have a reliable supply of potable water from a system developed at a cost of $460 million by the National Water Commission (NWC).

Speaking at the official commissioning of the system on Friday (February 28), Minister of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change, Hon. Robert Pickersgill, said while the terrain of the communities made the project a complex undertaking, it was done on time and within budget.

The Minister also urged the residents to protect the water system, while encouraging them to become connected to the system.

“I encourage all the residents of Ewarton, Mount Rosser, and surrounding areas to ensure that they are legally connected to the network,” he said while addressing the ceremony at the Mount Rosser Methodist Church.

To make easy accommodation for additional customers to be connected to the new system, the NWC has cut the metering cost (for a limited time), in almost half, and has set up an office in the town of Ewarton, to carry out the registration and connection process.

“Protect your improved water supply infrastructure, and pay your water supply bills, so that the system can be maintained,” Mr. Pickersgill said.

He also encouraged persons to continue to conserve water, as climate change is impacting negatively on the availability of the commodity.

Meanwhile, Minister Pickersgill informed that in the coming months, he will be putting into service several water systems in the parish of St. Catherine, and other parts of the island.

Currently, the Rural Water Supply Limed is managing projects totaling $82.4 million, which will be benefitting 30,000 persons in the parish.

The projects include pipeline rehabilitation, catchment tank rehabilitation, rainwater harvesting, guttering and pipeline extensions, in communities such as Above Rocks, Mount Industry, Top Hill, Seafield, Mount Moreland, Cedar Valley, Bamboo Ridge, John Groin, Windsor Heights, and other communities.

“My Ministry and its agencies are determined, and continue to work hard to increase the availability of potable water for all Jamaicans, and improve the quality of life for all citizens of this country, as a fulfillment of the Vision 2030 programme,” the Minister stated.