Thousands of NIC Customers and Others Receive Free Non-Potable Water

More than 3,000 customers and others have received free non-potable water from the National Irrigation Commission (NIC), under its programme to provide the commodity to affected communities, following the passage of Hurricane Melissa.

This represents 15,000 cubic metres or 3.9 million gallons to more than 60 communities across parishes most affected.

Public Education Specialist with the NIC, Christeen Forbes, said the entity began distributing water immediately after the hurricane, in consultation with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining.

“This is not only assisting farmers but it’s also assisting the communities, because we know that the National Water Commission (NWC) pumps remain down and we are trucking water, so that is something that is very big for us,” she said.

Ms. Forbes was speaking at a Jamaica Information Service (JIS) Think Tank, held at the agency’s Television Department at 5-9 South Odeon Avenue, in Kingston, on December 17.

She said the effort formed part of the Commission’s corporate responsibility to serve communities and touch lives.

“That’s a part of our corporate responsibility because we understand that we don’t only need to assist the farmers who we serve and we collect monies from to recover but we also need to assist the communities we serve, so we are trucking water, as well, to schools and police stations in some of these areas,” Ms. Forbes said.

The Commission serves parishes along the south-central belt of the country, to include Portland, St. Thomas, St. Catherine, Clarendon, Manchester, St. Elizabeth, Trelawny and St. James.

Meanwhile, Director of Commercial Operations with the NIC, Wayne Barrett, said the work of the entity has been well received by the communities served.

“They have received the work of the NIC in a very positive way. From day one of us reaching out to them, they were very appreciative of that because in many instances, especially in St. Elizabeth, they would have lost all of their farms, so we would have gone to assist them and basically let them know they are not alone and we are there to assist them until they get back on their feet,” he said.

Meanwhile, Director of Engineering and Technical Services at the NIC, Rohan Stewart, said the water provided, while not treated, can be used for other domestic purposes.

“Residents needed water for everything, not only for consumption or using for preparing food, but they need it for their domestic needs. So, when they showed up for water, whether they are customers or not, as long as they wanted water they were provided with it,” he said.

The NIC is the licensed authority under the Irrigation Act, to provide irrigation services across the agricultural sector.