MORE than $500 million is expected to be invested in the development of the Queen Heights water system in St Ann North Western as part of efforts to address water supply challenges across the constituency.

Minister of Water, Environment and Climate Change Matthew Samuda said the project will be implemented by the National Water Commission (NWC), with plans to advance it to the procurement stage next year.

He made the announcement while addressing the commissioning ceremony for the Discovery Point to Mount Boon pipeline project in Discovery Point, St Ann, on Friday.

Samuda said the project must undergo several processes before implementation, noting that significant work remains before it reaches the construction stage.

He, however, gave the assurance that the Government is committed to advancing the project, “[and] getting it done as soon as it’s possible”.

Samuda said the Queen Heights development forms part of a broader programme of water infrastructure upgrades in St Ann North Western where addressing the constituency’s various water supply challenges is expected to cost more than $2 billion.

He noted that the scale of the required investment reflects the varying infrastructure needs across the constituency.

The minister explained that some communities require new systems to provide residents with a reliable water supply for the first time, while others need ageing infrastructure to be replaced.

He noted that infrastructure in some areas already served by the NWC has aged and deteriorated over time.

“So, we have to both be building new systems to give many people reliable water supply for the first time while also replacing existing systems that, in many cases, have outlived their useful life,” he said.

Samuda acknowledged that residents awaiting improvements can become frustrated, noting that their assessment of progress ultimately depends on whether water is reaching their homes.

He further outlined that the scale of the challenge will require continued investment in new and replacement infrastructure to gradually improve water services across the constituency.