Jamaica Again Voted Country with the Best Drinking Water in Region

Jamaican has again copped the prize for the country in the region with best quality drinking water.

This marks the third time in a row the country has been so recognized.

This was disclosed by Vice President for Legal Affairs at the National Water Commission (NWC), Kevin Williams, who is part of a five-man delegation headed by Minister of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change, Hon. Robert Pickersgill, currently attending the 23^rd Annual Water/Wastewater Association Conference in Nassau, Bahamas, under the theme: ‘Water, Waste, and Energy in the Caribbean’.

Speaking with JIS News from Nassau, Mr. Williams said this is the third year that the competition is being staged, and for Jamaica to have won it three times in a row speaks volumes for the quality of water being produced and distributed to Jamaicans by the NWC.

Judging, he said, was done to the highest standard and when it was over Jamaica’s water samples were graded 10, 9, and 9 by the three-man panel of judges. Only the winner was announced.

“When we spoke to the judges, they said hands down, our (piped) water was the best, and close to some of the bottled water they have tasted. Other competitors’ water was heavy tasting and had sediment,” Mr. Williams.

He explained that the judging was based on exacting standards, which included colouration, taste, chlorine content, and sedimentation.

“We took several bottles of our water, regular piped water and registered it. It had no occlusion, had no sedimentation, the taste was good, and the chlorine content was good. We ensured it met WHO (World Health Organization) and PAHO (Pan American Health Organization) standards.  One of the things we do not compromise on is the quality of our water and when ships come to port, they fill up without any question,” he noted.

The conference, which runs from October 6 to 10, is being attended by representatives from regional countries including Grenada, Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, and Jamaica.

It aims to promote education and training in water supply, wastewater, and solid waste disposal, and to encourage the study, research, and development in water supply, waste water, and solid waste disposal.

It features workshops and seminars; regional specific technical sessions; exhibitor and vendor showcases; field trips and technical tours.