35,000-Gallon Catchment Tank Repaired in North West Manchester
By: , September 18, 2015The Key Point:
Photo: Melroy Sterling
Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change Minister, Hon. Robert Pickersgill (2nd left), is assisted by North West Manchester Member of Parliament, Mikael Phillips (3rd right), to unveil sign for the newly renovated 35,000-gallon Ballynure rainwater catchment tank, during a brief ceremony in the community, on Thursday (September 17). The facility, which was renovated at a cost of $9.5 million by Rural Water Supply Limited (RWSL), under the Ministry’s multi-million dollar Catchment Tank Rehabilitation and Rainwater Harvesting Programme, will be managed by the Manchester Parish Council. Observing (from left) are: Deputy Mayor of Mandeville, Councillor Irving Facey, who represented Mayor, Councillor Brenda Ramsay; and Councillors for the New Green and Mile Gully Divisions, McArthur Collins and Fairbourne Maxwell.The Facts
- The tank, which supplies water to approximately 1,500 residents of Harry Watch, Mile Gully, Ballynure, and adjoining communities, is one of five in the constituency to be rehabilitated under the RWSL’s Catchment Tank Rehabilitation and Rainwater Harvesting Programme, over the past two years.
- Additionally, the facility, along with those at Coley Mountain, Green Mount, Lyndhurst and Maidstone are among nearly 120 renovated under the RWSL programme during the period, at a cost of over $100 million.
The Full Story
Rural Water Supply Limited (RWSL) has repaired the 35,000-gallon Ballynure rainwater catchment tank in North West Manchester, at a cost of $9.5 million.
The tank, which supplies water to approximately 1,500 residents of Harry Watch, Mile Gully, Ballynure, and adjoining communities, is one of five in the constituency to be rehabilitated under the RWSL’s Catchment Tank Rehabilitation and Rainwater Harvesting Programme, over the past two years.
Additionally, the facility, along with those at Coley Mountain, Green Mount, Lyndhurst and Maidstone are among nearly 120 renovated under the RWSL programme during the period, at a cost of over $100 million.
The Ballynure tank was commissioned into service by Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change Minister, Hon. Robert Pickersgill, during a ceremony on Thursday, September 17.
In his address, Mr. Pickersgill welcomed the facility, and underscored the importance of capturing and storing rainwater, “in the face of increasing and intensifying droughts.”
Noting that the protracted drought is attributable to the impact of climate change, Mr. Pickersgill stressed the need to “return to rainwater harvesting as one method of ensuring our water security.”
For his part, North West Manchester Member of Parliament, Mikael Phillips, expressed gratitude for the tank’s renovation.
He emphasised that water availability must to be positioned as a “major plank” that spurs rural development, pointing out that “communities cannot grow without having a proper and efficient water supply.”
Speaking on behalf of the citizens, Ballynure resident, Trudy-Ann Smith, expressed gratitude to all the stakeholders involved “in this wonderful act of kindness” of rehabilitating the tank.
Other speakers included: Deputy Mayor of Mandeville, Councillor Irving Facey, who represented Mayor, Councillor Brenda Ramsay; RWSL General Manager in charge of Engineering, Douglas Wilson; and Councillor for the Mile Gully Division of the Manchester Parish Council, Fairbourne Maxwell.
The Ballynure tank, which was constructed in the 1950s, will be managed by the Manchester Parish Council.