NWC Prepares for Natural Disasters

The National Water Commission (NWC) is actively preparing for potential natural disasters by implementing measures to ensure the continuity of its services.

St. Elizabeth’s Team Leader of Operations & Maintenance at the NWC, Kevin Staple, outlined these efforts during Tuesday’s (March 4) meeting of the Disaster Preparedness, Hazard Mitigation & Safety Committee, held at the St. Elizabeth Municipal Corporation in Black River.

Mr. Staple pointed out that in the coming weeks, NWC staff will undergo refresher training courses as part of the entity’s business continuity plan.

This plan is designed to address a range of risks, including natural disasters, pandemics, cyberattacks, and other threats that could disrupt daily operations, he said.

“So, our staff is now being prepared, and each person is being assigned a role to ensure that we’re equipped to deal with any impending issues that may affect us,” Mr. Staple explained.

He indicated that while this is ongoing, the NWC will continue to work on internal projects aimed at providing water service to communities that currently lack access to a reliable supply. In fact,

Mr. Staple said these small-scale projects have already brought significant relief to several areas across the parish.

“Some of the communities are Content, Thompson Town, Cog Hill, Rocky Hill, and the Kingdom Hall Road in the Gazeland project, which is about 60 per cent complete,” he noted.

Mr. Staple emphasised that with the amount of money spent to expand the water infrastructure in these communities, the NWC is now urging residents to ensure sustainable and lawful water usage.

He is calling on residents to connect legally through official channels.

“So, with the completion of these projects in these communities, we’re soliciting the assistance of the representatives here to invite community members to come out and legally connect with the NWC through the appropriate channels,” Mr. Staple implored.