NWC relaxes drought-related restrictions after heavy rains
KINGSTON, Jamaica — The National Water Commission (NWC) says it has modified water supply restrictions affecting customers served by major catchment facilities in the Corporate Area following heavy rains over the weekend.
A media release from the NWC on Monday said that the heavy rains since Friday have resulted in improvements in the watersheds, increased inflows into the various sources and increased storage levels, allowing for a modification of the restrictions.
It said the Seaview, Hermitage/Constant Spring, Hope, and Mona water supply systems have all been positively impacted.
The storage levels at the Hermitage Dam have moved from 69 per cent to 100 per cent and the Mona Reservoir has climbed from 25 per cent to 36 per cent. At the worst of the drought, storage levels had dropped to as low as about 20 per cent and 25 per cent at the Mona and Hermitage reservoirs, respectively, the NWC release said.
“Based on the current increased inflows and storage levels affecting the Seaview and Hermitage/Constant Spring water supply systems, drought-related restrictions are being lifted with immediate effect,” the release added.
The NWC said it is relaxing the restrictions on the Mona and Hope water supply systems, to allow for 10-12 hours of supply daily during the course of this week. Nightly restrictions will remain in place until further improvements in storage are achieved at the Mona Reservoir.