KINGSTON, Jamaica- Prime Minister Andrew Holness says that more than half a million residents in Kingston, St Andrew and Portmore in St Catherine, will benefit from the expansion in water supply from the new Rio Cobre Water Treatment facility.

The move is part of the government’s commitment to improve archaic water supply infrastructure and give more people access to greater volumes of the commodity.

Holness noted that improvements in water supply are part of the Government’s mission and commitment to improve the long-standing situation and implement sustainable water solutions.

In his address at the ground-breaking ceremony for the construction of the modern treatment facility on Thursday, the prime minister acknowledged the challenges faced in the past, particularly the delayed implementation of infrastructure projects, due to redirected funding to address severe drought conditions.

He said that the Rio Cobre Water Treatment Plant was intended to be a medium-term initiative, geared towards meeting the growing water supply needs in St Catherine, as well as reducing the shortfall between demand and supply of water in the Kingston Metropolitan Area. However, circumstances dictated that the project financing be redirected to the NWC, to address the severe drought conditions in the northern and western parishes of the island,“ he said.

The Rio Cobre Water Treatment Plant will have the capacity to reliably produce 15,000,000 imperial gallons per day. The project will cost $12 billion, and it includes the construction of intake systems, conveyance pipelines, and the treatment plant itself.

The project is expected to be the second largest in Jamaica. It will be able to transfer 15 million gallons of water, to benefit approximately 150,000 customers or approximately 600,000 residents in Kingston and St Andrew, Spanish Town and Portmore.

Construction is slated to be completed in two years and will be managed through a public-private partnership (PPP) agreement between the National Water Commission (NWC) and Rio Cobre Water Limited.

“When the project is completed, we can expect improved water supply and reliability for residents, better resilience in the water sector during periods of drought, and improved water supply to facilitate our continued development in the business and residential sectors. This project is also one of many solutions being implemented across our island to address water supply challenges,” he said.

The new Rio Cobre Water Treatment Plant is expected to be followed by a 23-year operation period by private partners under a public-private partnership (PPP) arrangement. This billion-dollar investment signifies a win-win situation for the NWC, its customers, and the nation as a whole, reducing the need for water trucking and eliminating water restrictions during drought periods.

The prime minister reaffirmed his government’s dedication to implementing sustainable water solutions, emphasising their commitment to enhancing citizens’ quality of life. He also mentioned the Marescaux Road Wells rehabilitation project, which currently feeds the Mico University College , will be commissioned shortly.

He urged for patience from residents and the public, acknowledging the long-standing nature of the water challenges spanning decades. He also emphasised that, while previous administrations may have ignored the perennial issue, his administration is taking active measures to address and resolve the needs of the people.

“If you are honest with yourselves and look at what the government has done, we are the only government that has made investments in improving infrastructure and in dealing with the issues that affect people,” the prime minister stated.