6,000 Residents in St. Ann Receive Potable Piped Water

Some 6,000 residents of Cascade, White Sands and Bohemia, in the parish of St. Ann, have been provided with potable water, piped into their homes.

On February 14, Minister of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change, Hon. Robert Pickersgill, commissioned into service the water supply system at Cascade, built at a cost of approximately $45 million.

In his address at the ceremony, the Minister urged the residents to play their part in protecting the infrastructure, and to pay their bills, so that the system can be properly maintained.

He pointed out that $15 billion is currently owed to the National Water Commission (NWC) in outstanding bills, a situation “which cannot be allowed to continue.”

“We have done our part in providing you with this water, and now you must play your part to ensure that you continue to receive the water you need on a daily basis. I urge you to give the operators of the system your fullest co-operation, pay your bills, so that the system can be maintained and you can get water for years to come,” he told the residents.

Mr. Pickersgill also implored them to protect the water source (Cascade River), by keeping it free from garbage and pollution.

Meanwhile, Chairman of the Board for Rural Water Supply Limited, John-Paul White, said since 2004, the number of households receiving potable water has increased from 45 per cent to 50 per cent.

He added that for fiscal year 2012/13, some $270 million is expected to be spent by the organisation to upgrade rural water supply systems, which will directly benefit approximately 43,000 residents.