Improved Water Supply for Residents of Western Jamaica in Coming Weeks

Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Senator the Hon. Matthew Samuda, says residents in western Jamaica can expect significant improvements in their water supply within the coming weeks.

During a stakeholder meeting at the Grand Palladium Hotel in Hanover on May 29, Minister Samuda highlighted ongoing works in West End, the Salt Creek Bridge (Negril), and other areas aimed at addressing the water scarcity.

“The pipes to do 1.2 kilometres of line replacement were delivered on Monday (May 27). Heavy equipment was moved into the space on May 28, and work started today (May 29). When one adds up the work in the West End, the work on Salt Creek Bridge, and the additional line works that have been done, we expect to be saving approximately one million gallons that were being pumped into the ground,” Mr. Samuda said.

The Minister added that work would be done on four major areas of degradation in Hanover over the next eight weeks, noting that in continuing with the short-term measures, the decalcification of the Great River system was completed on Friday (May 24).

“That’s a major step for St. James, Hanover and Westmoreland, because that water at Great River comes back to Terminal in St. James and pumps westerly down towards Green Island [Hanover]. It never used to be able to get to Green Island. What that means is that the Logwood Plant that used to pump both easterly and westerly will now be focused on pumping and supplying only westerly,” Senator Samuda noted.

“So, the Norman Manley Beach Road [Negril] and the road going up to the West End, once that work is done on the distribution line, there should be significant improvement,” the Minister added.

He assured the gathering that the impact of these projects is already being felt and will benefit more citizens on completion.

Meanwhile, Mr. Samuda said that a $169-million project, led by Rural Water Supply Limited and the National Water Commission (NWC), is set to bring improvement to more than 5,000 residents in communities within St. James East Central.

He said the initiative reflects the Government’s commitment to enhancing water infrastructure across the region.

The Minister noted that six major leaks along the distribution network in Negril were repaired over the last two months to reduce the significant non-revenue water (NRW) issue in the area.

He added that repair work along the Salt Creek Bridge stretch, which had been a source of deep concern, would be completed within the next two weeks.

The Minister also announced that work along the stretch from the West End to Red Ground, which had a degraded distribution network, would be completed in three weeks.

In response to the challenges posed by the drought, Mr. Samuda said the Government has allocated $25 million for water-trucking services to ensure that schools, hotels and residents in Hanover and Westmoreland have access to water.

These measures, he said, are part of a broader strategy to mitigate the effects of water shortages and enhance water security in the western part of the island.