Residents moan water shortage

Monday, February 08, 2010

SCORES of residents from several Corporate Area communities were yesterday bracing themselves for possible plans by the National Water Commission (NWC) to impose further water restrictions in areas across the Corporate Area today.

The residents, many of whom claimed that they were barely surviving on limited water supplies, said that they had reached a point of desperation.

"People are barely getting by with the already limited resource, can you imagine what will now happen if further restrictions are implemented," lamented Pauline Saddler, a senior citizen from the August Town community.

Saddler was one of several concerned persons interviewed in the more than 10 communities that are to be affected today.

The National Water Commission (NWC) in a press release stated that as part of the ongoing water management measures to combat the prevailing drought conditions affecting the water supply system mainly in southern parishes of the island, the new restrictions would have to come into effect.

"Because the NWC can only provide the water that it has, this will result in severe shortages in some areas, regardless of the distribution regime that NWC puts in place," Michael Dunn, NWC vice president said in a release yesterday.

Communities to be affected include Karachi, Long Mountain, Mountain View and surrounding areas. Others like the Liguanea area, Mona Heights, August Town, Old Hope Road, Cross Roads, Hope Road, Police Officer's Club, King's House and surrounding areas will see restrictions Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sundays from 4:00 am - 4:00 am and again from 4:00 pm - 8:00 pm.

Some other restrictions will apply to the following communities:

* Hope Pastures - Tuesday and Saturday 4:00 am -12 noon

* Beverly Hills - Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sundays 6:00 am -10:00 am and 4:00 pm -8:00 pm.

* Gordon Town and Tavern, Kintyre and Hope Flats - Thursday 4:00 am - 12 noon and 12 noon - 8:00 pm.

* Elleston Flats and surrounding areas - Wednesdays & Saturdays 4:00 am- 8:00 am

The NWC said that the Mona and Hope Treatment Plants will also continue to be shut down each night from 8:00 pm to 4:00 am. In addition, the Constant Spring Treatment plant will continue to be shut down every day from 5:00 pm to 4:00 am.

Customers in the areas of Lower Jacks Hill, Cherry Gardens, Barbican and sections of Millsborough who are served by the Constant Spring system will receive water daily between the hours of 4:00 am and 2:00 pm.

Other restrictions for Havendale and Portmore will remain in effect as follows:

* Sections of Portmore - no water or low water pressure from 9:00 am to 3:30 pm on weekdays (Mondays - Fridays).

* Sections of Havendale - no water or low water pressure from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm on weekdays (Mondays - Fridays).

The water company yesterday called for understanding from its customers but some residents from the selected communities said they were not being treated fairly.

"Them say there will be more restrictions in the area but is three months now I don't get no water in my pipe, and to make matter worse when the NWC water truck come is just go in the square and spend a few minutes," said one man who identified himself as Paul, a resident of Eltham Flats.

According to Paul, who was the spokesperson for a group of angry young men who gathered in the area, "no consideration is being given for even persons from the disabled community who are a little slower than others when it comes to getting to the various areas to collect the commodity.

"If it was not the river and a nearby spring in our area a don't know how we would survive," said Lambert Needham who sat among his friends in Gordon Town yesterday.

"Is from last year I don't get not even a drop of water at the pipe," said Francis Burrell, another man in the group.

According to Burrell, the drought had become so severe that even persons from Jacks Hill were now venturing to the community to catch water at the spring.

Police in Gordon Town yesterday said that they too have had to extend a helping hand to residents.

"Because of the drought situation the police have been forced to help some residents by allowing them to come to the station to catch water. We cannot help everyone but where we can give assistance we will do so," Sergeant Huntley Cameron said.

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Residents moan water shortage