MORE than 7,000 residents in and around Watermount in St Catherine, should have adequate potable water in the next eight months from a $150-million upgraded system in the area.

The Watermount Water Supply System, which is being developed by the Rural Water Supply Limited (RWSL), will be turned over to the St Catherine Municipal Corporation on completion, to serve some seven communities in the area.

The communities include Mendez, Back Pasture, Cudjoe’s Hill, Old Works, Watermount, Barry and Pedro.

Welcoming the development, Member of Parliament for St Catherine West Central Dr Christopher Tufton said it came as a result of many collaborations and advocacy that he led.

“The work is ready to begin, and the resources are in place. Be responsible in accommodating the project, and be responsible in the usage of the infrastructure,” said Dr Tufton, who is also minister of health and wellness, at yesterday’s groundbreaking ceremony in Watermount.

Water will be sourced from the William Gully Dam, which was earlier refurbished by the municipal corporation, with new transmission and distribution lines installed, and construction of a storage tank and pump station.

Mayor of Spanish Town Councillor Norman Scott told the residents that the system is being at considerable cost, and people will not be allowed to divert water illegally. “Protect the investment; it is taxpayers’ money,” the mayor said.

In his address, chairman of the RWSL, Councillor Homer Davis, said with the increased budget of the agency, they are reaching scores of communities with improved water systems, and the one in Watermount will “add value to the residents” in the areas to be served.

He also reported that work to upgrade the Connor/Ginger Ridge water supply system is slated for completion by April, and that 26 water supply projects across the island are nearing completion.