Distribution of 10,000 Black Tanks to Begin Before End of February

In a matter of days, needy households across Jamaica are to receive their share of 10,000 black tanks from the Government, to improve their water-storage capabilities.

“The procurement is complete, which is the hardest part of these things… so delivery to our poorer households of these 10,000 tanks right across the length and breadth of Jamaica is expected to commence before the end of February,” said Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, the Hon. Matthew Samuda, who has responsibility for Water and the Environment.

He was speaking on Friday (February 21), at the Commissioning Ceremony for the Stanton Housing Scheme Water Upgrade Project in St. Thomas.

The black water tanks initiative was previously announced by Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness.

Minister Samuda explained that this means “approximately 150 [tanks] per constituency along with some areas that [are] totally outside of the utility footprint [and are] benefiting disproportionately”.

“This is work that we are doing to ensure that our most vulnerable get the benefit that they must receive from a Government that has performed at a macro level,” he added.

Furthermore, Mr. Samuda revealed that a pilot project for the installation of rainwater harvesting systems at the household level was undertaken in Eastern and Western St. Thomas.

“We did analysis of communities that were outside of what is called the utility footprint where the National Water Commission (NWC) is not likely to come to anytime soon because of the distance [and] because of the costs, and we started installing some tanks with rainwater harvesting systems,” he noted.

The Stanton Housing Scheme Water Upgrade Project was completed at a cost of just over $7.5 million and is to alleviate water challenges faced by residents in the area for more than three decades