Prime Minister Andrew Holness has introduced a new initiative aimed at delivering clean drinking water to communities still without electricity following the impact of Hurricane Beryl.
Speaking before the House of Representatives on Tuesday, Prime Minister Holness directed the National Water Commission (NWC) to lease all available suitable generators to support areas where water services remain disrupted. He confirmed that several generators have already been secured and will commence deployment from Wednesday onwards.
“We will be mounting these mobile generators on flatbed trucks to enable mobility between communities, providing temporary relief while household and community storage tanks are replenished,” Holness stated during his address.
Approximately 50 of these roving generators are slated for deployment in conjunction with efforts by the Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS). “Our strategy involves moving across the country, energizing these pumps, announcing scheduled water availability periods for affected communities, and continuing until JPS restores electrical service,” Holness elaborated.
These mobile generators supplement machines already stationed at hospitals, medical facilities, and infirmaries.
The NWC reports that regular water supply has been reinstated to 85% of its 546,000 customers, equating to 464,000 clients. However, approximately 15% of customers, served by over 300 NWC pumps, still lack consistent water access.
Holness highlighted that water supply has been restored to 13 major towns, with partial restoration in Black River. Nevertheless, 78 critical systems await JPS’s restoration of electricity.
Acknowledging the challenges faced by citizens without access to clean water, Holness emphasized ongoing collaboration between NWC and JPS to alleviate customer hardships. He instructed Minister Matthew Samuda to spearhead a robust resilience plan for NWC, ensuring backup generators are procured to safeguard major pumping stations.
The initial phase of this initiative is projected to cost $750 million, aimed at bolstering resilience in public utilities. Holness affirmed the government’s commitment to fortifying NWC’s infrastructure against future disruptions.
In addition to generator initiatives, Holness assured continued water trucking to severely impacted areas. “NWC is utilizing all available trucks and extending operating hours for loading bays to facilitate round-the-clock deliveries,” he affirmed.
According to JPS reports, power has been restored to approximately 94.6% of its 655,000 customers, marking significant progress in recovery efforts post-Hurricane Beryl.
Related topics:
