MAY PEN, Clarendon — The familiar sound of elected officials flaying the National Water Commission (NWC) marked Thursday’s monthly council meeting of the Clarendon Municipal Corporation.

They once again expressed dissatisfaction with the length of time it takes the NWC to repair reported leaks, the rapidity with which leaks recur, and what they say is the utility company’s penchant for digging up recently repaired roads — complaints that have long echoed across Jamaica.

“I remember one pipe in a road name Bryans River that took two years to be fixed. It was when I went up to the regional director for NWC before it was done. Another thing is that, by the time they are repaired, they start leaking again,” groused Councillor Carlton Bailey (People’s National Party, Milk River Division).

“In Gimme-me-bit, I reported four leaks on a street and they came there the other day after calling and quarrelling. They fixed two of the leaks and left two and by the following morning those that they fixed were running even harder than before. I don’t understand what else I can do. The communities keep calling and when the team comes into the division and a leak is there and they fix it, if there is another one, they say they can’t fix it because they have not been given instructions to do so,” Bailey reported.

The councillor also took issue with the water provider choosing to fix pipes after roads are rehabilitated or resurfaced.

“So you put down a road, a so it mash up,” said Bailey.

Councillor Collin Coke (Jamaica Labour Party, Mineral Heights Division) also reported that a road which was recently resurfaced in the Mineral Heights Housing Scheme was dug up to repair leaking pipes very soon after it was resurfaced. He is concerned that the road has been left in an undesirable state.

Responding to the concerns, NWC Zone Team Leader Devon Johnson said the State entity is working overtime to fix the issues raised.

“Everybody will not be satisfied with the performance. The evidence is clear that we are working and we are working with the resources we have. The challenge with Milk River is, we have polyethylene pipes which were laid in the European Union-era and in my view, they have outlived their usefulness. As you fix one here, and by time you leave, another one burst. We have laid 365 lengths of four-inch PVC pipe on Bath Road, and in the lane the councillor is talking about we laid over 64 two-inch pipes about two months ago. It is now being pressure tested and will be put in operation,” Johnson assured.

He said other areas in Milk River are also being given attention.