$1b needed to renovate MoBay's water system

Christopher Thomas, Gleaner Writer

WESTERN BUREAU: Dr Horace Chang, minister of water, housing and environment, has indicated that it will take $1 billion to completely renovate Montego Bay's water-piping system.

"We have always spoken to the fact that there are 21 informal settlements - that's over 20,000 houses. No human being can build a system for a small community of 50,000 people, and then it expands to 100,000 and it keeps reliable water supply," said Chang.

"So we have to face reality - it's not a matter of anybody's fault. It just grew like that. Now, what we have to do is commit the funding to change the system, which we're doing."

He was speaking at the St James Parish Council Mayor's Forum at the Glendevon Primary and Junior High School.

Among the issues raised by residents were lack of water to homes in certain sections of the community, absence is proper waste collection and the need for better relations with the police.

Chang noted that part of Glendevon's water woes could be blamed on illegal water connections, several of which his ministry discovered during an assessment three years ago.

As a result, he said, ensuring stable water supply to all residents and fixing the water system for the wider Montego Bay will not be an overnight procedure.

"We're not ignoring the situation, but it's not something you can solve by just saying, 'We can just come and fix some pipes'. We're going to proceed with it, we have identified the funding, but it takes time to decide, and we have to reline the entire Montego Bay," the minister told the residents.

He added that work began last November to address the Second City's piping system, with a one-year estimated timeline for completion of the Norwood area. To facilitate the project, repairs must be done at the Great River water plant and a proper system put in place for Norwood and surrounding areas.

Meanwhile, the National Water Commission's western region community relations officer, Julia Gordon, outlined other factors that would have hampered water supply in recent months.

"We are affected by extreme conditions, when there's not enough rainfall, like when there's a drought, and also when there's too much rainfall. The state of the muddy water may prevent us from harnessing the water, treating it and distributing it to (customers)."