WITH Jamaica still suffering from drought, the National Water Commission (NWC) says that simple conservation measures can save up to 30 per cent of water used in a household.

“While the various authorities need to put in place adequate infrastructure and other measures to combat the effects of drought, conservation is something everyone can do to help, especially since water is a finite resource and will not always be available in the amounts needed,” said Michael Dunn, NWC vice-president for east Jamaica.

The NWC wants customers to heed the '4 R's' of water conservation:

1. Reduce the use of water as much as possible;

2. Repair all leaks;

3. Re-use water whenever possible;

4. Re-place water wasting devices with water-saving devices.

Dry, hot weather during the usually wet months of June and October has caused many NWC water supply systems to dwindle or dry-up, with the Corporate Area being the worst affected. Storage levels in the two larger water storage facilities in the Corporate Area stand at 40 per cent for the Mona Reservoir and 30 per cent for the Hermitage Dam.

Mark Barnett, NWC area manager for Kingston, St Andrew and St Thomas said that: “The situation is made even worse because piped water demand has gone up as much as 50 per cent for all purposes including irrigation, fire fighting, gardening and other purposes for which the treated potable water supply systems were not designed, placing an undue burden on the existing NWC piped supply of water. This combination of declining yields and increasing demands severely handicaps the operations of the NWC at a time when many persons turn to the Commission for water for their various needs.”

The NWC also urged customers to remain patient during the drought period. For more information about water conservation and recycling, persons can visit the NWC website: www.nwcjamaica.com

  9 comments

  0 comments

  0 comments

  0 comments

  0 comments

  0 comments

  0 comments

  0 comments

  0 comments

  0 comments

  0 comments

  1 comments

  0 comments

  0 comments

  0 comments

  0 comments

  0 comments

  0 comments

  0 comments

  0 comments