The Government is embarking on a $24.8-billion project that, when completed, should provide significant relief to water supply problems being experienced by Jamaicans in the western section of the island.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness, in a statement to Parliament on Tuesday, said the Western Water Resilience Programme will see the installation and replacement of two major pipelines
— from Martha Brae Water Treatment Plant in Trelawny to Terminal Reservoir in St James; and fromGreat River Water Treatment Plant in St James to Negril, Westmoreland.

Describing the project as a major investment, the prime minister explained that the upgrades to the transmission mains are being pursued under emergency procurement.

“The pre-engineering phase of this project has commenced at a cost of $32 million. This will last six weeks. During that period the National Water Commission (NWC), in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance, will complete the necessary technical and administrative work to facilitate the deployment of US$160 million or $24.8 billion for the installation and replacement of these two pipelines,” said Holness.

He explained that these pipelines between Martha Brae in Trelawny and the Terminal Reservoir in St James, which were installed in 1982, have completed their useful life and the material used to build them can no longer stand up, as demonstrated by the recurrent leaks. He said the replacement of this transmission line is now critical to sustain water supply to communities, hotels and businesses between Montego Bay and Falmouth.

“Much of it would have been calcified and, when it was laid, it was too small. They didn’t think that we would have so many hotels coming. And so it is not merely a matter of just putting in a little pipe… massive investments have to be made in the infrastructure to deliver the water,” he said.

The project is expected to benefit residents and businesses in St James, Hanover, and Westmoreland, and especially the people of Negril, the prime minister said, adding that he has heard the complaints of the people of Negril and that he respects and understands the frustration they are experiencing, which is why the Government has taken a strategic approach to address the issue.

“The Government has dealt with the immediate response to the drought; we dealt with some short-term fixes to increase the efficiency of the resources and systems that we already have. [We] dealt with some medium-term solutions and now we are dealing with the solution that is going to transform water supply for the area,” he said.

In response to the prime minister’s statement, Opposition Leader Mark Golding said “[he] is fully supportive of efforts to ameliorate the strife being faced by the people and business community in Negril”.

He, however, queried the anticipated time frame for the completion of the pipeline replacement project and what impact it is projected to have on meeting the demand for water in the Negril and wider Westmoreland areas that are currently suffering from this water crisis.

Holness responded that the project for the installation and replacement of those two major pipelines will be done over three years.

“We are estimating that we would need about maximum US$50 million to start this year. So between getting the engineering and technical work passed in, say, six weeks, then we move to the other phases that would have to be done
— planning, contracting and so forth. That might take you a few more months, and then after that, as the project starts, it is funded from the reallocation of the capital that has been there,” he said.

Holness said the project is expected to result in a “substantial increase in water to the area”, through the various water treatment plants, noting that Martha Brae will move from 15 million gallons per day to 20 million gallons per day; Roaring River will move from 15 million to 20 million; Great River, from 12 million to 15 million; and Logwood, four million to seven million.

In response to a question raised by Opposition Member of Parliament Anthony Hylton, the prime minister assured that the greatest precaution will be taken to ensure that the best engineering is done.