ST ANN, Jamaica – The National Water Commission has commenced upgrades on the Walkerswood to Breadnut Hill Pipeline Project in St Ann valued at $125 million which is expected to benefit 3,500 residents.

Minister without portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Matthew Samuda, who was speaking at the ground- breaking ceremony of the project, noted that the project is set to benefit residents “all the way to Dunnsville, St Ann”.

“We would have upgraded the well, upgraded the piping network from here all the way to Dunnsville and that will give significant relief to citizens right along that corridor. We do acknowledge that we could have had more meetings and discussions about it. Sometimes discussions before procurement is complete only functions to frustrate people when you hearing two years before, three years before what will happen why you don’t have water,” Samuda said.

He noted that work has commenced to replace several valves along the water network which will see residents immediately benefiting from the project.

The Walkerswood to Breadnut Hill upgrading project is the latest move by the NWC to improve and upgrade water supply in the Walkerswood supply area.

Areas that are served include Walkerswood, Cottage, Bromley, Swansea, Refuge, Friendship, Cole Road and Upper Breadnut Hill.

This work will be an upgrade of the infrastructure to include well pumps and motors and pipeline that will now benefit residents that have been supplied inconsistently over the years.