National Water Commission (NWC) systems have suffered an estimated $10.28 billion in damage as a result of Hurricane Melissa which made landfall in southwestern Jamaica on October 28.

The preliminary estimate of the damage was disclosed by the Minister of Water, Matthew Samuda during a media briefing at the Office of the Prime Minister on Thursday.

“The impact to the National Water Commission’s operations of Hurricane Melissa is indeed extensive. The disruptions, damage, indeed lost revenue, reduced collections and cost of relief and restoration will exceed $10 billion,” he said.

Samuda shared that the Cabinet has been informed of all the issues that affect the NWC and has been presented with a restoration and relief plan. He explained that the plan includes clearing access to sites; temporary repairs to raw water transmission and distribution pipelines; installation of standpipes in communities with electric power; trucking of water; office building repairs; and the purchase and rental of standby generators. Samuda said the first phase of the restoration plan will cost $3.25 billion.

He also told the media briefing that the four companies that manufacture tanks in Jamaica have been asked to boost their operations to supply tanks for the most badly affected communities.

“We will be procuring all of what they’re able to produce by December 31st for distribution in the most affected parishes …to assist with households which have been damaged and have no access to water so at least when the trucking comes they have appropriate storage,” said the minister.

Presently, 76 per cent of NWC customers have had their water supply restored and Samuda hopes this will rise to 85 per cent over the next three days. He stressed that where water is not yet restored, there is a lack of electricity and emphasised that “the supply of water is inextricably linked to the supply of power”.