New Hope Primary School in Westmoreland gets water purification system

New Hope Primary School in White House, Westmoreland recently welcomed a significant addition to its facilities in the form of a major water-purification machine.

This new installation, made possible through a partnership with the Sandals Foundation that procured the unit from Sip Water Lifesaver, is set to not only benefit the school but also the wider community by providing a reliable source of clean and safe drinking water.

Acting Principal, Latoya Green-Ruddock, told JIS News that the school community is grateful for the collaboration that enabled the essential facility's provision.

She highlighted the critical role it will play, especially during natural disasters, in providing safe drinking water to both the school's students and staff, as well as the residents of White House.

“We have these waterborne diseases, gastroenteritis, natural disasters and all those things. So, in the event we have these emergencies, then we do have safe drinking water for all the members of this [school] and community,” she explained.

Green-Ruddock informed that the school already has water tanks in place, which made it easier for their donors to instal the filtration system.

She added that the facility will be connected to the main pipe with a concrete base storage area, ensuring easy access for maintenance.

“The filters are there, and so we can always dismantle and take them out, and clean and replace them. We've also gotten some spare filters that will serve us for quite some time. So, it will serve the entire school population as well as the community,” Green-Ruddock indicated.

With 416 students and more than 30 members of staff, New Hope Primary School stands as the only educational institution in Westmoreland, and possibly Jamaica, to have such a water purification system, the Acting Principal noted.

This good fortune, she noted, makes them a beacon for water safety and health in the White House area.

Green-Ruddock said the school anticipates further collaboration and the prospect of even greater things emerging from this partnership.

President of the school's Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) and a member of the New Hope community, Rodney Lee, expressed deep gratitude for the new facility, which, he said, will have a significant and positive impact.

He conveyed the parents' pride and appreciation for the Sandals Foundation's efforts in making this project a reality, emphasising the system's far-reaching benefits.

“Recognising that this school is one of the emergency [shelter] buildings where, if a disaster should happen, people will be able to be housed here… this effort will assist, especially in [safe drinking] water distribution,” Lee underscored, adding that “this will help and go a long way”.

Sandals Foundation Executive Director, Heidi Clarke, reiterated the importance of installing the machine at New Hope Primary School.

She emphasised that the system is designed to remove “99 per cent” of disease-causing germs and contaminants, ensuring that the water is safe for consumption, both on regular school days and during emergencies.

Sandals Foundation donated a similar system to a school in the Turks and Caicos Islands, which also serves as an emergency shelter.

Follow The Gleaner on X, formerly Twitter, and Instagram @JamaicaGleaner and on Facebook @GleanerJamaica. Send us a message on WhatsApp at 1-876-499-0169 or email us at onlinefeedback@gleanerjm.com or editors@gleanerjm.com.