NWC warns customers to brace for water lockoffs as it seeks to contain costs

The National Water Commission (NWC) is warning customers to brace for water lockoffs as it moves to contain rising expenses amid escalating oil prices. 

The Russia-Ukraine war has triggered global increases in fuel prices, which means higher energy costs. 

The NWC says it will be implementing targeted proactive measures so that it is able to continue key operations. 

These include outages and shutdown of some NWC facilities during certain hours. 

"Facilities will be strategically selected for downtime operation to minimise as best as possible the effect on customers," said an NWC spokesperson in a statement. 

The commission says customers will be given adequate notice about the selected facilities for downtime.

According to the NWC, it must take urgent steps to cushion the effects of the rising costs of operations. 

"If oil-related operational costs are not effectively contained or managed, our customers could be at risk of not having sustained supplies when it is needed most, and this can have far-reaching negative national consequences," said the NWC spokesperson. 

The NWC says customers must now conserve as best as possible.

At the same time, the NWC says it has been implementing several measures aimed at cutting its energy costs. 

These include the use of renewable energy sources for the Port more Commercial Office in St Catherine, the Hamilton Garden Wastewater Treatment Plant in St Catherine and the Oxford Road office in St Andrew.