Portmore Water Project to Begin in Two Weeks

KINGSTON — Work on the Portmore water project, which will bring improved water supply to residents of the St. Catherine municipality and adjoining areas, is slated to get underway in another two weeks.

To be undertaken by the National Water Commission (NWC) over a 15-month period, the scope of works will involve construction of a new transmission main at the downstream of the Caymanas tank of the Rio Cobre system, connected to the existing Marley Hill Reservoir at Braeton, and reinforcement mains in Portmore.

It is one of four projects, valued at $2.8 billion, for which Minister of Housing, Environment, Water and Local Government, Hon. Dr. Horace Chang, signed contracts in late September, for the rehabilitation and upgrading of supply systems across the island.

Addressing a community meeting at the Portmore Holiness Christian Church on November 2, Dr. Chang said that while the project does not represent the complete plan for Portmore, it will bring “a more reliable supply on a regular basis. It will be far more reliable and adequate than it is now."

He said the works to be undertaken will allow for more effective flows through the distribution network and reduce the levels of non-revenue water.

Work on the Portmore water system is part of the Kingston Metropolitan Area (KMA) Water Supply Project, which aims to boost supply to Greater Spanish Town, South East St. Catherine and Kingston and St. Andrew, to keep pace with the rapid industrial and housing developments in these areas.

Turning to other projects in St. Catherine, Minister Chang mentioned investment of $700 million to upgrade the Kitson Town system, while funding is being sought to address the scheme serving Guy’s Hill/Ewarton.

By Garfield L. Angus, JIS Reporter