NWC Restores Most Water Facilities Damaged During Recent Severe Weather Events

The National Water Commission (NWC) has restored 208 of 210 facilities that were impacted during the recent passage of Tropical Storm Grace.

This was disclosed by NWC President, Mark Barnett, during the Commission’s digital quarterly briefing on Thursday (September 2).

Mr. Barnett advised that the facilities sustained damage amounting to $26 million.

These, he noted, were mainly affected by turbidity and electrical issues resulting from heavy rains and wind associated with Grace, which skirted the island’s coasts.

Mr. Barnett said the two facilities that remain out of operation are the Aviary sewage treatment plant in Old Harbour, St. Catherine, which requires repairs totalling $18 million, and the pipeline in Yallahs, St. Thomas, which sustained damage amounting to $2 million.

“The Yallahs pipeline is a very vulnerable infrastructure, and any incident of prolonged rainfall usually creates a very high risk for the NWC,” he disclosed.

Mr. Barnett informed, however, that only 60 facilities were damaged during the passage of Tropical Depression Ida, 50 of which have been restored.

He further advised that no significant damage was sustained by facilities in Hanover, Westmoreland, Manchester, St. Elizabeth, St. James, and Trelawny.