STEWART TOWN, Trelawny — The National Water Commission (NWC) has provided further clarity on the disruption in the water supply to residents of Stewart Town and neighbouring communities in south Trelawny, and
has promised that the service will be restored shortly.

“We understand the basic need for water and wish to assure them that work is underway to restore the system within the next 48-72 hours,” Delano Williams, acting corporate public relations manager at the NWC, told the Jamaica Observer on Tuesday in response to questions from the newspaper.

“Stewart Town and its environs have been impacted since a mechanical issue developed on the pumping unit [at the Barnstaple Deep Well] on December 12, 2024. The NWC has been working diligently over the past few weeks to address this problem and to restore water supply to its valued customers.

“Efforts were made to reinstall on Friday, December 27, 2024; however, these efforts proved futile due to an unforeseen challenge that forced further remedial work,” added Williams.

He said on Monday it was confirmed that all the damaged components have been successfully replaced and the team is now reassembling the pumping unit for reinstallation by Thursday.

“In addition to these immediate actions, the NWC is pleased to announce plans for the comprehensive rehabilitation of the water sources and pipeline network serving the south-eastern and north-eastern belts of Trelawny. This initiative aims to enhance the long-term reliability and resilience of the water supply system for residents in these communities,” said Williams.

He told the Observer that key steps being undertaken include the deployment of water trucks to provide temporary relief to the affected communities while repairs are underway, and the expediting of maintenance and infrastructure upgrades to restore consistent and equitable water supply.

Williams added that rehabilitation work is also being done with an overhaul of the existing water sources and pipeline networks to increase capacity, improve efficiency, and ensure sustainability in service delivery.

He said information will be provided to the relevant stakeholders on the progress of water supply works.

“The NWC remains committed to transparent communication and will provide timely updates on the progress of these measures.

“We thank the residents for their patience and understanding as we work to resolve this matter. The NWC values its customers and strives to uphold its mission to deliver safe, reliable, and accessible water services across Jamaica,” said Williams.

The water woes facing residents of Stewart Town and neighbouring communities were brought to public attention this week by Paul Patmore, the People’s National Party caretaker for Trelawny Southern.

Patmore demanded immediate action from the Government and the NWC as he charged that since November 24, the day after a by-election — which saw Marisa Dalrymple-Philibert re-elected as Member of Parliament for the constituency — taps have run dry, leaving families struggling to meet even their most basic needs after having seen water in their pipes daily in the lead up to the poll.

“The abrupt halt in water supply has heightened concerns over health, sanitation, and quality of life in the community,” charged Patmore.

“The people of Stewart Town have shown incredible patience, but enough is enough. It’s unacceptable that the community has been abandoned without a consistent water supply after the elections. Access to water isn’t a privilege — it’s a fundamental human right,” added Patmore.

But speaking with the Observer on Monday Dalrymple-Philibert denied that the interruption in the water supply was linked to the by-election.

“There are one or two times because of reasons — because a pump breaks down, some mechanical reasons, there might be a surge in electricity, something happens — and we are without water and it is distressing,” said Dalrymple-Philibert.

“When you are without, anywhere you are, it is a distressing situation. I empathise with it, I understand it is distressing, and we are doing all that we can, as we should. We should do it, we are doing it and we apologise and ask the persons to bear with us as we sort the problem out,” she added.