Kingston sewerage development project on track

Plans for the implementation of a US$100 million Kingston Sewerage Development Project is on track with international engineering consultancy firm Nippon Koei Limited, undertaking preparatory survey for the project.
The survey work, which started in July 2009, will continue until September, during which loan approval is expected to be given.
The project, which is being funded by the Government of Jamaica, the National Water Commission (NWC) and the Government of Japan through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), aims to improve the sewerage systems in sections of Southeast St. Catherine and the northern section of Kingston and St. Andrew (KSA).
Chairman of the NWC, Russell Hadeed, addressing a symposium held yesterday (January 26) at the Jamaica Conference Centre, to provide details of the project, said that the undertaking is part of an ongoing effort by the company to improve access to water and waste water services to all of Jamaica.
He noted that the provision of central sewerage services is expensive but necessary to protect public health, to support economic development especially in urban areas, and to protect the natural environment.
“This proposed project, which the NWC hopes to implement as soon as the necessary planning and approval details can be properly formalised, will therefore go a far way in realising major improvements in sewerage service provision in (KSA and St. Catherine),” he said.
According to a Ministry document, detailing the project, main works will involve the expansion of the sewer network to the northern section of KSA, which include Pembroke Hall, Havendale/Meadowbrook, Barbican, Birdsucker and Hope Pasture.
Work will also include the decommissioning of the four waste water sewage treatment plants in Portmore and converting them into transfer/pumping stations. The installation of sewer pipelines between these transfer pumping stations and the Soapberry Sewage Treatment Plant, including a Pipe Bridge crossing the Rio Cobre River, is also to be undertaken. Standby generators are to be installed at the new transfer pumping stations in Portmore.
According to the schedule, the selection of consultants and engineering design should take place from October 2010 to May 2012, followed by tendering and selection of contractor from June 2012 to December 2013. Construction work is expected to kick off in January 2014 and completed in December 2015.
The Kingston Sewerage Development Project is expected to: minimise ground water contamination in the KSA; reduce environmental pollution including in the Kingston Harbour; fulfil and comply with the effluent quality standards stipulated by National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA); improve the NWC’s operational efficiency and service delivery; and increase household connections and expansion of the sewerage coverage within KSA to 50 per cent.
At Tuesday’s symposium, which was organised by the NWC, principals of Nippon Koei Limited made presentations on the design of the proposed KSA and improvements to the Portmore system. The environmental, social and organisational considerations in relation to the project were also explored.
Participants included Minister of Water and Housing, Hon. Dr. Horace Chang; President of the NWC, Mr. E.G. Hunter; Japanese Ambassador to Jamaica, His Excellency Hiroshi Yamaguchi; and a representative from NEPA.