TRELAWNY, Jamaica — As National Water Commission (NWC) customers await the restoration of piped water in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa, long queues of residents have been seen collecting water from the Martha Brae River in Trelawny, which reportedly broke its banks during the storm.

Since the passage of the powerful Category Five hurricane, scores of residents in and around the historic town of Falmouth have gathered on both sides along a section of the roadway from Martha Brae leading into the town to fetch water believed to be coming from the river.

The untreated water is being used for bathing, flushing toilets, laundry, and other domestic purposes.

Residents fetching river water at roadside on road leading from Martha Brae to Falmouth in Trelawny, Tuesday morning. (Photos: Horace Hines)

When Online Observer visited the location on Tuesday morning, several people were seen washing clothes at the roadside water source.

Lines of motor vehicles stretched on both sides of the roadway as residents queued to fill containers.

“It is clean river water that flow on both sides of the road. Nothing wrong with it. We don’t really drink it, but if push come to shove, we can boil it and drink it,” said one woman among the gathering.

— Horace Hines