Inside the Municipal Corporations | St Catherine faces emergency as more houses come on stream

The St Catherine Municipal Corporation wants the Health Department to bring closure to an ongoing problem of waste flowing from the El Prado Verde treatment plant.

The revelation that waste was flowing from the treatment plant into a drain was first highlighted by councillors last year and continue to be a nagging problem.

Mayor of Spanish Town Norman Scott told last Thursday's monthly meeting that this and all other treatment plants must be upgraded to be able to accommodate the emerging housing development in St Catherine.

"There are many housing developments coming on stream soon, so these treatment plants must be able to accommodate them," Scott said.

"I am concerned about the ongoing problem with the El Prado Verde plant."

Grayson Hutchinson, acting chief public health inspector for the parish, responding to the concerns, informed the meeting that the Health Department continues to monitor the situation at El Prado Verde.

"New samples were collected and tested and found to be negative," Hutchinson informed.

"The Ministry of Health is in dialogue with the Scientific Research Council regarding sewage plants. We are awaiting the results of these discussions before deciding on a course of action."

Hutchinson made it clear to the municipal corporation at last month's meeting that a team from the department met with the directors of the housing development and had made recommendations for improvements to the outflow that was channelled into the drain.

He said the department will move against the El Prado Verde Citizens' Association with notices and possible lawsuits if the ongoing problem persists.