$1b plan to ease Brown’s Town water problems
Published:Wednesday | October 27, 2021 | 4:08 AMCarl Gilchrist/Gleaner Writer
St Ann North West Member of Parliament (MP) Krystal Lee says $1 billion will be spent to address the perennial water problems affecting residents of Brown’s Town and adjoining communities.
In making her debut presentation to the State of the Constituency Debate in the House of Representatives on Tuesday, Lee said approximately $450 million will be spent on the Queenhythe water system, a further $150 million on the Thicketts Water System Project, and approximately $400 million on Phase Two of the Minard Water System upgrade, which involves replacement of old and leaking pipes.
Lee said the project is slated for next financial year, pending the availability of funds.
Citing the shortage and lack of piped and potable water as a “grave issue” that affects more than 60 per cent of communities, the first-time MP said she has been working assiduously with the National Water Commission (NWC), Rural Water Supply, and the St Ann Municipal Corporation to resolve the issue.
“Residents living in Liberty Gardens, Dover, Belair Meadows and Dumbarton have seen an improvement of their water supply due to an upgrade of the relift pump at Rose Mount,” Lee said.
“Further improvements of the Rose Mount facilities are to be done to provide an improved and reliable water supply to over 2,000 individuals in the areas of Discovery Bay, Bridge Water, and Primrose Hill,” she added.
Also to benefit for the first time from the upgrade are the communities of Helicon, Hopewell Bottom, and Commando.
She lauded the NWC for providing water to residents of Up Hill and Dumbarton for the first time in more than 80 years.
Lee said the Minard Water System is currently under Phase One of its upgrade and new pumps and motors have been procured for both the well and the lift station. The MP said this is to make the system more reliable and to produce more water to better serve communities that are already on the system.
Over 10,000 residents are to benefit from the upgraded water systems, Lee said.