A $135-million water system upgrading

project, which will bring the precious commodity to some 8,000 residents in

Portland Cottage, Clarendon, is expected to be fully operational by the end of

April.

Managing Director of the Rural Water Supply

Limited (RWSL), Audley Thompson, told JIS News that the system commenced

limited operation in October, and will shortly reach communities like Shearer

Heights and much of Rocky Point.

He said that the investment will drive

development in the area, citing the potential for housing projects.

Project Manager, Opal Gillings, for his

part, said that the upgrading of the water infrastructure will provide

significant spin-offs for areas such as Rocky Point, which is home to the

largest fishing village in the Caribbean.

“We anticipate that with water supply

development, it will diversify the offerings and spur the development of the

community,” he noted.

Meanwhile, Thompson explained that the

agency is on course to surpass its target for the installation of water

harvesting systems in schools.

He said that at the start of the current

financial year, the RWSL had targeted 30 schools but noted that due to

“improved efficiencies” 38 institutions will be reached.

“We are here to solve the challenges, and

with increased budget allocation, we had more work and we are doing the work

very economically,” Thompson said.

The RWSL is an agency of the Ministry of

Economic Growth and Job Creation with a mission to design, plan, and implement

potable water infrastructure to serve rural communities.