KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS) – Some 38 rural water projects are to be undertaken this financial year as part of plans to improve the provision of adequate reliable supplies of potable water to communities.

This was disclosed by Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Dr Horace Chang, during his presentation in the 2016/17 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on July 5.

He informed that in St Elizabeth, the final phase of the Essex Valley water-supply project is to come on stream. The $570-million project from Nain to Junction in St Elizabeth involves the installation of a new re-lift station at Nain.

 Chang also told the House of Representatives that the Government will initiate the $75-million Hounslow to Parottee water-supply project, which involves the installation of 4.6 kilometres of pipeline from Hounslow Well to Newell Square, to replace the aged cross-country pipeline.

Other projects include the development of the Newmarket water-supply scheme, which is to go to tender during this financial year, and will benefit the communities of Newmarket, Bersheba, and Brighton.

For Trelawny, Chang said a $95-million project to replace eight  kilometres of pipeline from Samuel Prospect to Baron Hill is about to start, and that the engineering designs for the Quassi water-supply system in South Trelawny are being completed and prepared for tendering.

Chang said that, in St Catherine, the $70-million Goldmine water-supply project will be completed and involves the rehabilitation of the water-treatment plant and the Cocoa Walk storage tank.

“In Kitson Town, distribution will be expanded to provide for that entire area. The Connors/Ginger Ridge water-supply programme will also be taken on this year,” he noted.

For the north coast, Dr Chang highlighted the ongoing resort and residential developments.

“We intend to move quickly to initiate a new 15-million-gallon plant at Rio Bueno and extend the trunk lines from Runaway Bay to Ocho Rios to ensure that there is a reliable supply of water and that there will be no impairment of development on the north coast for both residents and visitors,” he explained.

Meanwhile, the water-supply infrastructure for three towns – Old Harbour, May Pen and Mandeville – will be a special focus for the National Water Commission (NWC). Projects estimated at US$120 million, which aim to reduce the levels of non-revenue water in these towns as well as reconfigure the water-supply network to optimise water supply, are now being developed.