THE recent commissioning of a $160-million water system in Gordons, Westmoreland will translate into a potable water supply system for more than 5, 000 residents.

The Gordons system is the first phase of the Bluefields Whitehouse water supply system.

Preliminary designs on the development started in 1999, with construction commencing in March 2000. The major elements of the system were completed in January 2001, paving the way for improved water supply to the communities of Whitehouse, Bluefields, and Belmont.

Other areas such as Vietnam, Roe Town, Culloden were later incorporated into the distribution network, resulting in service commencing in those areas in April 2001. These communities are now served by the Goat Gully Spring in Bluefields that has a daily output of 4.5 million litres (1 million gallons).

With the Gordons phase now up and running, residents are now rejoicing that they, and “their donkeys,” can now take a rest.

“I am very proud of this water system because we use to carry water on donkeys for about a mile because up a Gordon did not have any water. The pipes them rotten in a the ground but since this operation we are enjoying water,” said resident Michael Burnett. “About 15 years we did not have any water and we are very glad for the water.”

Another resident, Samuel Sanderson, who has been living in Gordon for over 42 years, recalled the years when he was forced to live without running water.

“I feel very happy about the water, because from I was a little child, I used to carry water from about four miles, sometimes on my head, before I went to school. So, that water shortage affected my life from school days, and I am now very happy,” said Sanderson.