Residents of Portland Cottage and its environs in Clarendon can now access potable water resulting from the installation of three wayside tanks by the National Water Commission (NWC).  

The NWC says this initiative aims to provide relief to the hurricane-ravaged communities of Rocky Settlement, Water Lane and Portland Cottage.  

The commission says  the tanks will be filled three times per day, allowing residents to access water as needed. 

"This measure was necessary to alleviate somewhat the current situation, as most residents lacked proper storage, leading to a high demand for trucked water," said NWC Regional Manager for Clarendon and St Catherine, Garwaine Johnson.

He further pointed out that "despite the NWC trucking over 30 loads of water to the communities daily,  this amount is woefully inadequate."   

The installation of the wayside tanks is an interim solution to provide ease of access to water for the affected residents. 

The communities are supplied by the Kemps Hill Water Facility which remains out of operation since Hurricane Beryl. 

The NWC says it is working expeditiously to restore operations at impacted water facilities across the island. 

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