US$195m water project will boost supply

KINGSTON - Water supply problems that have plagued large sections of the Corporate Area for decades might soon be a relic of the past, with the roll-out of a US$195-million (J$17-billion) megawater supply project.

Speaking in the 2009/10 sectoral debate at Gordon House in Kingston Wednesday, Water and Housing Minister Dr Horace Chang said the Jamaica Water Supply Improvement Project (Jamaica SIP) would, among other things, "address the perennial water supply problems of the Corporate Area" and other rural sections of the island.

"An additional 20 million gallons of potable water will be provided to the KMA.

"This will eliminate water lockoffs in the city due to supply shortage," Chang told parliamentarians.

The water and housing minister also announced that there would be an increase in the supply of potable water to rural areas.

He said a major component of the programme would be the replacement of the Rio Cobre pipeline, which should save about 1.5 to two million gallons of water per day.

(Jamaica Observer)