Gov’t Unveils Robust Water Storage Plan

Minister of Water, Environment and Climate Change, Hon. Matthew Samuda, says

the Government has a robust plan to address Jamaica’s water storage challenges, noting that the sector is vital to national development and the achievement of Vision 2030.

He noted that over the last century, Jamaica made three major investments in water infrastructure: the development of the Hermitage Dam in the 1920s, the Mona Reservoir in the 1940s, and the Yallahs Pipeline in the 1980s, which helped stabilise the water supply in Kingston and St. Andrew.

The Minister added that while other capital projects have been completed, population growth and development over the past century have rendered much of the infrastructure inadequate, and in some areas it has aged beyond its useful life.

Consequently, Mr. Samuda informed that the Government has commenced the engineering process at the Hermitage Dam to replace its more than 90-year-old wall, which was originally built with a 50-year engineering guarantee.

He noted that the project will be carried out under the National Reconstruction and Resilience Authority (NaRRA).

“A new… wall will double the capacity of the Hermitage Dam and significantly increase our resilience in Kingston and St. Andrew. That will involve building a new wall and in very crude terms, taking down the old one, and desilting the existing area to significantly increase storage,” Minister Samuda said.

He was speaking on the topic: ‘Water, Sanitation and Hygiene: Pillars of National Health and Sustainable Development’, during the Rotary Club of Kingston meeting, held on Thursday (March 26) at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston.

Minister Samuda also indicated that plans are under way to expand the Mona Reservoir.

He indicated that the Government has commenced feasibility studies and engineering assessments for expanding the reservoir to Long Mountain in St. Andrew.

“That would increase capacity by approximately 70 per cent. We also intend, at the appropriate time, to dredge the existing structure once the engineering assessments are complete, [and] that would return approximately 40 per cent of the storage area,” Mr. Samuda explained.

Meanwhile, in rural Jamaica, plans to construct a major dam at Rock River in Clarendon over the next five years are currently under review by the Public Investment Appraisal Branch of the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service.

Mr. Samuda explained that the project is intended to address one of the largest water-scarce areas in the parish.

“We expect the engineering to be complete this year… you get to tender next year and commence construction the year after,” he outlined.

The Minister further explained that in areas unsuitable for reservoirs or dams, community-based tanks will be installed.

Mr. Samuda announced that the Government is procuring approximately 18 tanks.

Additionally, approximately 100 storage points across the country will be upgraded to significantly increase their capacity and extend their service life by 30 to 50 years.

“So, in areas where there’s 10,000-gallon storage, some of the upgrades will include 50,000 gallons. In areas where it’s 100,000 gallons, and it’s not simply able to carry the community around it, there’ll be significant upgrades,” Minister Samuda outlined.

He added that the terminal reservoir supplying Montego Bay in St. James will be upgraded to provide an additional 15 million gallons of storage capacity.

In areas not served by the National Water Commission (NWC) or private entities, the Government has also committed to distributing 100,000 black tanks over the next five years to households most in need.

“The threat to achieving that is simply whether the market can supply it or not. There are only four manufacturers of black tanks in Jamaica, and it is impractical to ship them. [So], as much as the market can supply, the Government intends to support,” Minister Samuda stated.

The distribution will be carried out through the Water Ministry, and in farming communities, through the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining.