The two major storage facilities in the corporate area, Mona and Hermitage, are currently at just over 30% of their respective storage capacities, despite the occasional shower being experienced by those living in Kingston and St Andrew (KSA).
President of the National Water Commission (NWC), Mark Barnett, disclosed that the specific watersheds serving both reservoirs have been and continue to experience less than average normal rainfall for a protracted period. He assured that the NWC is working assiduously to maintain piped water supply service to as many of its customers in KSA for as long as possible.
“We have been able to deliver potable water supply for the greater part of this nine (9) month drought period without whole scale significant disruptions to customers. This was realised through the earlier investments, but more importantly the dedicated efforts of our staff, whose effort is to ensure water is delivered through the pipes as scheduled,” he was reported as saying by the Jamaica Information Service.
The NWC has imposed restrictions on customers served by the affected water supply systems in an attempt to best share the limited supply of water. The government entity had also instituted restrictions in February this year. At the time, water levels at the Hermitage Dam and Mona reservoir in Kingston stood at 63.5 per cent and 76 per cent respectively.
Opposition Spokesperson on Agriculture and Water, Lothan Cousins, noted then that the rapid growth of the population and increasing urbanisation of Kingston and St Andrew without proper environmental planning had further exacerbated the chronic water shortage.
“It is time for the Government to implement a long-term sustainable solution to this recurring issue,” said Cousins.
“It is quite unfortunate that an island so blessed with water resources has to resort to a ‘regulation schedule’ in order to supply water to its citizens,” he said.
Cousins asserted that the Mona and Hermitage Dams have exceeded their initial scope of operation.
“These systems were designed years ago when the population of the corporate area was less than half of what it is today. The facilities require urgent and immediate desilting and expansion,” he said.
Barnett said the aim of the NWC is to provide the best possible service under difficult drought conditions with at least 80% of customers being supplied for about 8-10 hours daily.