KINGSTON, Jamaica — The NWC is reporting that the company is in “high gear” for what is forecast to be the busiest hurricane season in five years.

According to reports the season is expected to bring up to 16 named storms in the region with the likelihood of six to eight hurricanes, of which as many as four could become major.

In a news release today the water supply company said that water and sewerage systems operated by the NWC face the probability of being exposed to the ravages of torrential rains, flooding, punishing winds and other potential hazards of a hurricane.

“Many of the 460 water supply systems across the island, of necessity, have intakes in riverbeds; of the other systems, wells are often located in low lying plains; most systems are heavily dependent on the national power grid for operations and more than 10,000 kilometres of pipeline are in undulating terrain,” the release said, adding that these systems are therefore vulnerable to blockages, landslides, pipeline dislocation and breakages, high turbidity and contaminated water sources, which could result in disruptions in service.

In order to minimize the effects of possible disruptions in service across the country, the NWC is urging customers to be prepared for the season and to store potable water.