Some 2,500 residents of Port Royal and surrounding areas are set to benefit from an enhanced water supply and distribution system, following the commissioning of a new pipeline on Tuesday.
The milestone comes almost two years after the project’s groundbreaking.
Matthew Samuda, minister without portfolio with responsibility for water, dubbed the occasion a ‘Waterific Day’ during the commissioning ceremony for the Port Royal Pipeline Replacement Project. He emphasised that it aligns with the Government’s goal to make Jamaica water-resilient.
The project was done to the tune of $533 million.
“It marks a significant milestone in our ongoing journey to improve the lives of our citizens, fortify our infrastructure and secure a sustainable future for our communities,” Samuda said, adding that Port Royal holds a special place in Jamaica’s cultural and economic fabric.
He said the aged cast-iron pipeline that served Port Royal presented persistent challenges, frequent breaks, unreliable water supply and environmental risks hindering the growth of the unique township.
Samuda mentioned that the work would extend to the sewer system and noted that the commissioning ceremony marked the completion of phase two of the project.
“This project is the replacement of 8.6 kilometres of fragile pipelines with modern durable high density poliethline (HDPE) pipes. This upgrade was not just about changing infrastructure, it was about improving the quality of life,” Samuda said.
He said residents in Harbour View and Shooters Hill will also benefit.
“Sometimes people don’t recognise that water is indeed clear and water goes across constituency lines … . This line actually started running at the source at Long Mountain and comes all the way into Port Royal,” said Samuda, adding that it represents a continuation of significant investment that is being made in the Kingston and St Andrew Metropolitan Area.
Samuda said in 2015, 55 million gallons of water was required in Kingston and St Andrew to service daily needs.
“Today it requires 37 million gallons per day. So 17 million gallons saved because of the work and investment of this Government into the water network of Kingston and St Andrew,” Samuda said, noting that with all the building infrastructure (high rises) that have gone up, significantly less water is being used.
During his keynote address, Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness said it was very important that there is an appreciation for the project. He explained that while Port Royal had pipes, they were outdated, some dating back 60 to 70 years. These small-diameter pipes could not handle the necessary water volume, and their internal areas had become encrusted over time.
The prime minister highlighted that not only will residents benefit from the new system, but visitors – including potential cruise ship passengers – will also have access to potable water. And as Port Royal develops into a new economic hub, he said, it will contribute to Jamaica’s GDP.
Holness also mentioned several other ongoing and upcoming water projects across Jamaica, including the Lower Jacks Hill Supply Project (scheduled for completion by April 2025 at a cost of $350 million), the St Ann’s Bay to Llandovery Pipeline (expected to be completed in May 2025 at a cost of $550 million), and the Rosemont to Discovery Bay project (completed in December at a cost of $350 million).
He emphasised that projects are funded by the Government in a fiscally responsible, sustainable and strategic way.
“I wanted to commend the NWC (National Water Commission) for being good stewards of the public resources and being able to make these kinds of investments. I commend them because the history of the NWC is that they have not been able to make these kinds of investment in a sustained way. But more than that, they have not been able to make these kinds of investments without government support or borrowing,” Holness said.
Kingston Eastern and Port Royal Member of Parliament Phillip Paulwell commended the Government and stakeholders for the improved water network. He urged the Government to maximise the potential of the Kingston Harbour and develop the sunken city in Port Royal as part of an attraction.