Gov’t Looking To Strengthen Accountability Framework for Social Water Provision

Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, says the Government has no intention of removing social water access for Jamaicans.

Instead, he notes that the Administration wants to establish a more transparent system to ensure that those who genuinely cannot afford the service continue to receive legitimate access.

“The idea is not to deprive persons of water. The idea is to properly account for all the water that we supply so that we can make a conscious decision about who we’re going to give water for free and who is charged for water,” Dr. Holness said.

He was speaking during Wednesday’s (September 16) signing ceremony for a loan agreement between the Government and the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) to support the Jamaica Rural Water Supply Programme, held at the Consulate General of Jamaica in Miami.

Dr. Holness advised that provisions for social water are already built into the National Water Commission (NWC) rate structure.

“There is a certain level of consumption for which there is what is called a social rate. After you pass that certain level of consumption, then you go up to the residential rate,” he explained.

The Prime Minister further noted that the NWC has fixed-rate arrangements for communities where water services are not metered or cannot be metered.

Dr. Holness said that water trucking is another mechanism through which the Government provides social water, particularly in communities that lack utility service.

He indicated that 12 new water trucks were recently acquired to strengthen the response capacity, with plans to further expand the fleet.

“That’s the idea, because that’s how you get water to communities that just don’t have the utility service or any service at all. It is through trucking… and that is social water that is free,” the Prime Minister said.

Dr. Holness noted, however, that some households access the NWC’s water supply without being metered, a practice that constitutes illegal abstraction and contributes to non-revenue water.

“The NWC makes no revenue from that water that it supplies; this is something that we have to address,” he remarked.

The Prime Minister pointed out that the situation also places an unfair burden on customers who consistently pay for the service.

“Right now, as it is, the customer who is paying their water bill is probably paying more than they should, because they have to subsidise persons who can pay and don’t pay… who should pay and don’t pay. And persons who shouldn’t pay are getting… but are using much more than they need because they don’t have to conserve,” he stated.

Dr. Holness also voiced concern about water losses stemming from some illegal connections, noting that improperly installed connections can lead to leaks and water wastage.

The Prime Minister emphasised that efforts to improve accountability are not intended to prevent vulnerable Jamaicans from receiving assistance.

“So that my statements are not misconstrued or misrepresented, I want to [make it] clear that what the Government wants to do is to ensure that there is a transparent system of social water for households and communities who cannot afford it… to get legitimate access to water so that we can better manage our [overall] water supply,” he further underscored.