POINT, Hanover — Contrary to views expressed by a civil engineer, Senator Matthew Samuda is adamant that Jamaica has enough sources of potable groundwater.

“The recently tabled and gazetted water resources master plan done by WRA [Water Resources Authority] confirms that there is sufficient groundwater for the population and for the economic need in Westmoreland, Hanover, and St James… and nationally. We have sufficient groundwater and service water,” insisted Samuda, who is minister without portfolio for water, environment, climate change, green and blue economies.

He was responding to a question posed during a press conference following a meeting with stakeholders in western Jamaica on Wednesday. The problem, Samuda said, is insufficient infrastructure.

“For 40 years there was a chronic lack of investment in the water sector. I think the first go at it, as Dr [Horace] Chang has said, was during his tenure when he would have facilitated an investment of some $700 million. But… each number you hear we announce, you can be assured that because of this 40-year gap it really should have another zero behind it. Because that is really what is needed to bring the country to a state of water resilience,” he explained.

SAMUDA… the recently tabled and gazetted water resources master plan done by WRA confirms that there is sufficient groundwater for the population (Photo: Naphtali Junior)

Earlier in May, a civil engineer who specialises in water treatment and is familiar with the National Water Commission’s (NWC) systems, Dick Hooijschuur, told a community meeting in Negril that the depletion of water in Jamaica is predominantly caused by groundwater overutilisation as a result of increased population and developments.

However, the Government and the NWC have consistently argued that the chronic water crisis affecting western parishes, mostly Hanover and Westmoreland, is caused by drought conditions.

As a means of addressing the shortage, Hooijschuur suggested that the Government starts exploring desalination and the reuse of wastewater as possible solutions.

On Wednesday Samuda argued that the nature of the current climatic reality could push the country to adopt desalination as part of its future. He said the Government has received proposals in recent years and will continue to evaluate them.

Samuda also pointed out that desalination is an expensive, energy-intensive process that has an environmental impact. The focus, therefore, is to fix the distribution network, increase production capacity, put in modern intakes and increase storage.

While he noted that there are some sections of the island that are far away from water sources and desalination could be helpful along the coast in a small, measured way, the minister doubled down on his claim that “the country is still blessed to have sufficient service water”.

“We need to ensure that the harnessing of this water is as efficient and effective as possible before we get to it,” stated Samuda.

He said the prime minister has asked for the exploration of a mobile desalination plant that could function in times of emergency response by connecting to the NWC network when needed. Samuda said this assessment is in the early stages.

He told the Jamaica Observer that while the reuse of wastewater for irrigation and landscaping is a part of the global future, consumption use will require more science and cultural acceptance before this can be contemplated.

The minister also gave an update on plans to expand the Roaring River Treatment Plant in Westmoreland. According to him, technical and planning work is being carried out this year with the hope of starting development work in the 2025 financial year.

“That project is going through what is called [the] Public Investment Appraisal process. It has gotten concept approval and guidance from the Ministry of Finance, with additional information that needs to be supplied,” revealed Samuda.

“We expect to complete that process, allowing it to go on what is called the Public Sector Investment Programme, which is a legal construct under the FAA Act. Once that happens, and the Ministry of Finance clears that they have available financing, we expect to go to tender. All of that should happen later this year so that [the] development process can start next financial year,” he added.