Improved Water Supply for Western Hanover

Several communities in Western Hanover, including properties in the hotel belt of Negril, are to benefit from a more reliable water supply system.

Infrastructure works on the US$12.6 million Lucea Pipeline Replacement and Non-Revenue Water (NRW) reduction project are 85 per cent complete, and completion is expected soon.

The project will facilitate improved water flow from the Great River treatment plant to all the areas along the corridor leading into Negril.

Communities to benefit from this project include Green Island, Lucea, Elgin Town, Kew, Clifton, Askenish, Dias, Cacoon, Middlesex, Medley and the wider Negril hotel areas.

Senior Project Manager, National Water Commission (NWC), with responsibility for the Lucea pipeline replacement project, Gary Walters, tells JIS News that the work is far advanced, and there is flexibility in the system with three water supply systems linked together.

“We have three sources, Logwood in Negril, Great River in Hanover and Martha Brae in Trelawny, to supply the main areas,” he notes.

“The project is about 85 per cent complete and all pipeline works along the roadways have been completed and have been pressure tested. What remains to be done is a crossing (to be built) at the Riley Bridge.  As soon as this is done, we will do the final pressure testing on the entire pipeline,” Mr. Walters says.

He informs JIS News that the project is ahead of schedule and workmen were able to proceed without any undue disruptions.

Vice President of the (NWC), Mark Blair, tells JIS News that the project has been proceeding “very well” and should be completed within time and budget.

“Despite that fact that the project was scheduled to be completed in February 2015, it will be completed no later than September this year.  We are therefore quite happy and pleased, and the residents of Lucea and adjoining communities, especially the tourist resort town of Negril, will be the direct beneficiaries,” he says.

Mr. Blair reports that some challenges, especially in relation to traffic congestion, were encountered as the project proceeded though the main town of Lucea.

“There were also structural challenges and challenges with a number of the bridges within the environs of the town, but the contractors and their team, with the support of the NWC, overcame all those and completed the work within time and budget,” he notes.

Site Supervisor on the project, Carlton Jenkins, tells JIS News that impatient motorists also caused some concerns.

“Without the assistance of the Police, the work on the project would have been significantly affected.  I believe that the sub contractors and the on-site engineers have been performing well and doing a good job in my estimation, as we are way ahead of schedule,” he says.