WRA Monitoring Rise in Groundwater

Managing Director at the Water Resources Authority (WRA), Peter Clarke, says the agency is monitoring the rise in groundwater in Content, Manchester, and other areas across central and western Jamaica that are experiencing extended flooding.

Mr. Clarke gave the update on Thursday (November 13), at a Special Press Briefing on Hurricane Melissa recovery, held at Jamaica House in Kingston.

He explained that the rise in groundwater is caused by an overflowing, slow-moving aquifer that was exacerbated by the heavy rainfall before and during the recent hurricane.

Mr. Clarke reported that the water has risen more than 300 feet above its normal level.

Sinkholes in the area, which typically drain water away, are now having the reverse effect due to the sheer volume of water.

He stated that the WRA installed monitoring gauges in Content, which show the groundwater has risen approximately one foot per day over the last two weeks.

“[This] is a very high rate of flow for this area. And just of late in the last 24 to 36 hours, we’ve been noticing a little bit of a fluctuation where it’s slowed down a bit, [then] sped up a bit. So, we’re hoping – and I can only say that we’re hoping at this stage – that the groundwater is balancing out and then eventually will start receding,” Mr. Clarke said.

He pointed out that this extreme flooding from groundwater rising in the area had occurred twice in previous years – 2002 and 1977.

However, even with two previous incidents, Mr. Clarke maintained that it is difficult to determine when the water will begin to recede.

“The last time, early June 2002, the flood started and [by] the end of June, it had basically receded. So, in that instance, once it started receding, it took about three weeks. We will see what is happening here in this case,” he said.

He noted that the monitoring gauges will be in place once the water begins to recede, and a better estimate can be provided at that time.

In addition to Content, the WRA is monitoring flooding due to groundwater rising in Chigwell, Hanover; New Market, St. Elizabeth; and Moneague, St. Ann.

The agency is also monitoring flooding in Cambridge, St. James, where the Seven Rivers overflowed its banks and diverted through the community.

Mr. Clarke said that similar situations are occurring with the Cave River in Clarendon and in Brighton, St. Elizabeth.