WESTERN BUREAU – The $2.2-billion water project that takes water from Great River to Lucea has been completed three months ahead of schedule, and sections of Hanover that are now having a problem with their water supply will soon get relief.

“We are in the process now of commissioning the plant and commissioning the lines. The lines will be ready some time next week,” said state minister in the Ministry of Water and Housing Harry Douglas.

The project began last July and was scheduled to be completed during December of this year.

According to the junior minister, the final step is to have the National Water Commission put the 15 miles of 20-inch pipeline into service.

The recently-constructed plant is expected to pump five million gallons of water into Lucea on a daily basis.

And last week, contractors began a project which will take water from Lucea into the interior of Hanover.

“Once the pipeline is connected, we have a number of connections to make so that the interior of Hanover will get water,” said vice-president of the NWC’s Western Region Florence Logan.

“The first community will be Askinish. The contractors have started work to take water from that main up into the hills. but in doing so you have to do some distribution lines so they are doing the distribution lines now. And then after that is done it will be connected to this line.”

Douglas, who was touring western parishes earlier this week, said water has been restored to over 85 per cent of NWC consumers who had had disruptions in service after Hurricane Ivan battered the island.

However, he was quick to point out that the community of Granville, St James was still without water, but promised that water would soon be restored to the area as remedial work is being carried out on the pump. In the interim, the Pitfour pump – which is to be replaced – will serve both areas.

During the tour, Logan lauded NWC workers for their commitment to getting the job done under difficult circumstances.

“Our workers were out the Saturday morning following the hurricane, and I must commend the team for the effort,” she said. “The tourists were never out of water, the airport had water, and water was restored to the hospital soon.”

She also had high praise for the Jamaica Public Service Company.

“If they had to lift a line to give us service, they would do so,” she added.