Benevolent Society Receives Applications for St. Thomas Water Project

The Whitehorses/Botany Bay/Pamphret Development Benevolent Society (WBP/DBS) in St. Thomas is accepting applications for residents to be connected to the new water supply system, which will serve the three communities.
The construction phase of the project, which will serve some 5,000 residents, was recently completed.Several residents recently turned out at the Botany Bay Community Centre to fill out the application forms, which will enable them to obtain potable water in their homes. Forms are also being processed at the Emanuel Apostolic Church in Whitehorses, and at the Pamphret Community Centre.
The WBP/DBS will operate and manage the project, which was funded under the Government of Jamaica/Inter-American Development Bank (GOJ/IDB) Rural Water Programme.
Office Manager for the WBP/DBS, Janet Stewart, told JIS News that the Society is aiming to complete the application process within the next two weeks. “We expect that by that time, all who want to sign up for the new water supply will come in,” she said.
She informed that persons are required to submit two forms – a National Water Commission (NWC) discontinuance of water supply form and a WBP/DBS application form, along with their identification and proof of ownership of the premises.
She said that personnel will be at the three centres in the communities to assist persons, who may have difficulties filling out their forms. “At present, we are targeting 750 households in the initial stages,” she told JIS News, noting that the number might increase, since some householders want more than one meter.
In terms of charges, Mrs. Stewart informed that persons with existing NWC pipelines will pay $3,500, while first time customers will only pay $4,500. She explained that during the first six months to one year of the operation of the project, domestic and commercial customers will pay a monthly flat rate of $800 per household and $1,200 per business/public institution.
She indicated that as soon as the application process and the payment of fees are completed, the connections will begin. The water will be pumped from a Goodyear well into a 1.3 million litre storage tank in Healthful Hill, Whitehorses, which was built to store water as well as to service the communities.
“The plumbers are waiting,” Mrs. Stewart said, noting that the main pipelines and meters have been installed at householders’ gates and awaiting connection.
The Office Manager appealed to residents to be a part of the system. “It is our system and it is for our benefit and if we really pull together and support it, it will serve you long,” she pointed out.
The Whitehorses/Botany Bay/Pamphet water supply system is one of four similar projects funded under a GOJ/IDB US$12.5 million loan for community- managed water supply systems.