Multi-Billion Dollar Water Supply Project Benefitting Thousands

Work has commenced on the second component of the Jamaica Water Supply Improvement Project , Category ‘B’, all sections of which will be completed, on target and within budget, by February 2015.

Minister of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change Hon. Robert Pickersgill made the announcement during his contribution to the 2014 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on Tuesday, June 3.

The Category “B” works which will impact some one million Jamaicans comprise the replacement of Segment 2 of the Rio Cobre pipeline between Content District and Ferry, to reduce losses by 2.0 million gallons per day.

Mr. Pickersgill noted that this $2.6 billion project will improve supply to hundreds of thousands of Jamaicans in several St. Catherine constituencies in the Greater Spanish Town and Portmore areas as well as hundreds of thousands more in constituencies in Kingston and St. Andrew.

Also, 40,000 domestic and commercial water meters will be installed at a cost of $1.8 billion, and will enhance accuracy in the measurement of consumer consumption island-wide, impacting all constituencies.

Other works to be completed under Category ‘B’ include the refurbishment of  three major water treatment plants at Bogue, St Ann; Great River, St. James; and Martha Brae, Trelawny at a cost of $800 million.

Mr. Pickersgill noted that this project will improve the reliability and continued assurance of high quality water supply, as well as to restore production output to the original design capacities.

“This series of works will benefit more than 500,000 Jamaicans in several constituencies along the North coast,” he said.

Among the constituencies to benefit are: St. Ann North Western; Trelawny Northern; St. James East Central; St. James North Western; St. James Central; St. James West Central; Hanover Eastern; Hanover Western; and Western Westmoreland.

The Martha Brae Water Treatment Plant is also being expanded by five million gallons per day, to increase the available supply to a number of areas in the constituencies of St Ann, Trelawny and St. James, Hanover, and Westmoreland. This project is being done at a cost of $1.5 billion.

In addition, the Linstead/Ewarton Water Supply project as well as the Norwood Water Supply System in Western St. James North is to be implemented at a cost of $750 million, thereby improving supply to 60,000 consumers in these areas and reducing losses.

“This overall Jamaica Water Supply Improvement Project – Category ‘B’ – is progressing well towards final completion. Both the National Water Commission, as well as its customers, are already benefitting from its implementation in a number of areas across the country, such as the reduction in losses and improved water pressure and reliability,” Mr. Pickersgill said.