THE Lucea/Negril Water Supply Project is on target for its revised end-of-March completion date, according to the French contractor, Sogea International.

The project, which originally started five years ago had been stalled as the government was unable to come up with the original US$13 million needed to construct the treatment plant.

Work resumed last February when water minister Karl Blythe broke ground, for a second time, to get the project moving with its new price tag of US$15.6 million.

“Progress on this project has been exemplary and all involved deserve to be congratulated,” said National Water Commission president, EG Hunter.

The French team, along with consultants DHV International, and Carib Engineering Corporation Limited (CECL) is carrying out the work on behalf of the NWC.

The first phase of the project, the laying of some 27 kilometres of water distribution main and lines, was completed in October 1998.

The project is one of several major works being undertaken by the utility company to improve its service delivery islandwide. When completed the Lucea/Negril Water Supply Project is expected to produce between five and seven million gallons of water per day to serve communities stretching from Lucea in Hanover to Negril in Westmoreland.

Meanwhile, the NWC is seeking French support for other proposed water projects across the island.

Hunter recently hosted a delegation, headed by French ambassador Pierre Antoine Berniard and trade commissioner Jan-Pierre Laclau, on a tour of two major water supply systems in western Jamaica.

“With water to all Jamaicans as its primary objective, the NWC is exploring a number of creative options of funding and for undertaking major water supply upgrading projects across the island,” the NWC president said.

The touring party visited the Logwood Treatment Plant which is the final phase of the Lucea /Negril Water project. The French Ambassador and Trade Commissioner were also shown the likely pipeline route for expanding the Great River Treatment Plant in St James from its current capacity of 10 million gallons per day to 20 million gallons daily.