CLARENDON Central Member of Parliament (MP) Delroy Williams has proposed a remedy for the long-standing water problems in sections of his constituency which, he said, can be implemented at a relatively small cost and in less than three months.

Williams made the proposal in the House of Representatives on Tuesday during his maiden contribution to the State of the Constituency Debate. He highlighted that communities such as Pleasant Valley, Pennant Wood, sections of Treadlight District, and New Longville, among others, suffer from a lack of water.

The Government MP shared that he has, in recent weeks, asked the National Water Commission (NWC) team in the constituency to prepare a project profile to address the issue. He used the Parliament to ask both the NWC and Water Minister Matthew Samuda to examine the proposal to construct a 2.25-kilometre, six-inch, PVC transmission main connecting the Sheckles Well to the Woodside Well.

Williams, a former mayor of Kingston and former senator, serving his first term in the Lower House, explained that the Sheckles Well currently has surplus production capacity and operates up to 14 hours daily.

“But there is no infrastructure to transfer the excess production to the Woodside system which serves as one of the primary water production facilities supplying the May Pen distribution system,” he pointed out.

“By transferring excess production to the Woodside system the NWC would maximise the use of existing infrastructure while significantly improving water availability to Pleasant Valley, Race Track, and Pennant Wood, while strengthening the supply to the wider May Pen distribution network,” Williams explained.

He emphasised that the proposed pipeline interconnection would utilise existing surplus water production instead of new water sources. He described it as “a quick and cost-effective solution that would make a world of difference to the residents of the affected communities”.

Significantly, Williams said the fix would cost the NWC approximately $26 million, and would take less than 10 weeks to complete.

“The NWC would benefit from additional revenue of approximately $11 million annually, assuming a 70 per cent compliance rate. The investment can be recovered in 30 months,” he stated.

Until his proposal is taken on board, Williams said residents of the affected communities are forced to purchase water weekly. He said on occasion they receive water through various government programmes, including in the last three weeks.