Kitson Town Gets Water

KINGSTON — Approximately 10,000 residents of Kitson Town, St. Catherine, and its environs, are to benefit from Segment I of the newly commissioned Kitson Town Water Supply System.

Costing over US$5 million, under the multi-million dollar Jamaica Water Sector Improvement Project (JWSIP), the system was commissioned into service by Minister of Housing, Environment, Water and Local Government, Dr. Horace Chang, on Tuesday (December 20).

The scope of works entailed installation of two 100,000 gallon water tanks at Kitson Town and Paul Mountain; two booster pumps; eight kilometers of 250 mm ductile iron distribution pipes; and 49 km of new and repaired transmission pipelines.

When completed, the project will provide potable water for some 25,000 persons in Wakefield, Spring Vale, Mendez Hill, Point Hill, Duxes, Guanaboa Vale and Kitson Town. Implementation was spearheaded by the National Water Commission (NWC), with execution undertaken by the French engineering firm, Vinci Construction.

Dr. Chang described the system as one of the most modern to be installed in Jamaica, pointing out that the Ministry was satisfied that the spending “is worth it”. He thanked stakeholders contributing to its development, and urged residents to protect it.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Dr. Kenneth  Baugh, described the commissioning as “historic and momentous’ occasion”, citing that the new system will enable  residents to get potable piped water into their homes for the first time.

JWSIP is the single largest project ever undertaken by the NWC. It has a total cost of $17 billion (US$211 million) and, on completion, will bring an additional 20 million gallons of water to residents in Kingston and St Andrew, St Catherine and other areas of Jamaica.

By Douglas McIntosh, JIS Reporter