Stricter Water Restrictions Coming for Kingston and St. Andrew

Minister of Water, Environment and Climate Change, Hon. Matthew Samuda, is alerting the public that communities served by the Hermitage Dam and Mona Reservoir could see greater restriction in water supply in the next two weeks.

He noted that the Hermitage Dam is currently at 40.3 per cent capacity, while the Mona Reservoir is at 33.5 per cent.

This, he explained, is due to the persistent drought conditions that are significantly impacting the eastern section of the island.

“There are areas that in the coming week or two, if the rainfall projections and forecasts from [Principal Director of the Meteorological Service of Jamaica] Evan Thompson are not incorrect, could see greater restriction in terms of the hours and the availability of the supply, especially coming off the line that is supplied by the Hermitage Dam and sections that are supplied by the Mona Reservoir,” Minister Samuda warned.

He was speaking during a post-Cabinet press briefing held on Wednesday (September 30) at Jamaica House.

The Minister informed that the water crisis is more challenging in Kingston and St. Andrew due the parishes’ geographical makeup and reliance on primary storage, as well as the significant impact of severe drought conditions on the two major storage facilities.

He noted that in other parts of the country the impact is less, as they rely heavily on springs and underground water sources.

The Minister added that as of September 30 the drought has impacted 106 water systems islandwide, majority of which are in the east.

“Forty-five of our systems in Kingston and St. Andrew… 10 in St. Catherine and Clarendon, and 42 in the northeast are indeed experiencing the impacts of severe drought conditions,” Minister Samuda said.

“In the Western Division, one is in Manchester and St. Elizabeth, four in Westmoreland and Hanover, and four in St. James and Trelawny,” he added.

He expressed hope that with recent rainfall in the western parishes, there could be a reduced impact of the drought.

Minister Samuda advised that due to the current state of the country’s water sources and projections of further impact from the drought conditions, the public must take more personal responsibility to conserve.

“It is important that NWC does what it does, but it’s also important that we also do what we need to do at the household level. You can’t leave pipes running… it’s not the time for 30-minute relaxing showers. It is the time where you actually have to take personal responsibility and indeed conserve,” Minister Samuda stated.

He also encouraged those who can afford it to invest in additional storage facilities.