Prime Minister Visits Greater Mandeville Water Supply Improvement Project Wellsite

MONTEGO BAY, May 18 (JIS):

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, on Friday (May 17), visited the wellsite for the multi-billion-dollar Greater Mandeville Water Supply Improvement Project in Pepper, St. Elizabeth.

During his visit, pressure testing was being conducted to ensure the integrity and efficiency the newly dug well, a key component of the infrastructure upgrade being spearheaded by the National Water Commission (NWC).

The project aims to address the significant water shortfalls in Mandeville and adjacent communities in Manchester, which have long relied on the old Pepper well in St. Elizabeth as a primary source.

The new well is capable of producing three million gallons of water daily and is complemented by a massive 200,000-gallon tank, which forms part of the infrastructure to facilitate storage and distribution of the amenity.

Providing an update on the progress and future benefits of this vital project, Mr. Holness noted that five new pumps will soon be installed to channel water through a 24-inch pipeline to the Gutters pumping station, located six kilometres away in St. Elizabeth. From there, water will be pumped over Spur Tree Hill and into Mandeville.

He advised that work “is progressing as planned [and] when this is done, the people in Mandeville will have a far better water system.”

The Prime Minister also gave assurance that residents of Runnit and surrounding districts in and around Pepper, where the water is being sourced, will benefit from the project as well.

Mr. Holness said the Greater Mandeville Project is notable for being one of the largest capital investments in Jamaica’s water infrastructure in over 40 years.

He emphasised the critical nature of this investment, citing challenges posed by aging infrastructure, climate change, and the geographical distribution of water resources.

“Water is a real challenge for Jamaica. It is a challenge from climate change and environmental perspectives. It is a challenge for our aging infrastructure as [existing wells and pipelines] are over 50 years old. The other challenge is our logistics… meaning we choose to live where water doesn’t necessarily exist. Most of our population is on the southern end of the island but most of our water sources are on the northern end,” Mr. Holness outlined.

Despite these challenges, Prime Minister Holness expressed optimism about the future and attributed the project’s feasibility to Jamaica’s improved economic management.