CLICK ON THE PICTURE TO VIEW NEWSLETTER
Category: Uncategorized
550 Portland Households to Benefit from $40m Cascade Water System Upgrade
The Full Story
Approximately 550 households are set to benefit from the newly rehabilitated Cascade Water Supply System in Portland.
The facility, which was commissioned into service during a ceremony on Wednesday (August 20), was rehabilitated at a cost of $40 million by Rural Water Supply Limited (RWSL).
The upgraded system is expected to significantly enhance water supply to residents in the communities of Cascade and Section in Portland.
Among the participants in the commissioning ceremony were Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Hon. Matthew Samuda, and Minister of Science, Energy, Telecommunications and Transport, Hon. Daryl Vaz.
Speaking during the ceremony held at Cascade Primary and Infant School, Minister Samuda emphasised that as Jamaica intensifies its climate resilience strategies, communities like Cascade must be prioritised.
“We are blessed with heavy rainfall in Jamaica but sometimes very intermittent because of climate change. It means your systems to store, extract, process and distribute water have to outpace the ravages of climate change,” he said.
Mr. Samuda reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to ensuring reliable water access for all communities, in keeping with the country’s Vision 2030 Jamaica National Development Plan and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal Six, which advocates universal access to clean water and sanitation.
“That is why we are investing $22 billion currently to make our water systems more resilient, to extend our water systems to those who are left out and to ensure we can manage the ravages of climate change as best as possible,” Mr. Samuda declared.
In her remarks, RWSL Board Member, Natalie Irwin-Carby, highlighted that rehabilitation of the Cascade Water Supply System involved the construction of 10,000-gallon reinforced concrete water tanks, the installation of 50-millimetre pipes to replace the aged and deteriorating pipeline, and the installation of a tablet feed chlorination system.
“It will provide access to safe drinking water, reducing the burden of water-borne diseases and freeing up valuable time for education, work, and other productive activities. I am confident that this project will not only enhance the quality of life for the residents but also contribute to the overall development and prosperity of the community,” Mrs. Irwin-Carby said.
She urged the Portland Municipal Corporation, the owner and operator of the Cascade Water Supply System, to commit to the sustainable management and maintenance of the infrastructure, “to ensure that this valuable resource continues to serve the community for generations to come”.
Meanwhile, Minister Vaz, who welcomed the upgraded facility, noted that the community of Cascade has had a long-standing issue with access to water.
Consequently, he expressed gratitude to Rural Water Supply Limited for its comprehensive assessment of the supply challenges and the implementation of a targeted solution that is expected to permanently resolve the issue.
A JIS NEWS ARTICLE
https://jis.gov.jm/118-million-water-system-commissioned-in-free-hill-st-ann/
$118 Million Water System Commissioned in Free Hill, St. Ann
The Full Story
More than 1,500 residents of Free Hill in St. Ann now have reliable access to potable water following the official commissioning of a $118 million system in the community on Tuesday (July 29).
The project, undertaken by Rural Water Supply Limited (RWSL), involved construction of a 30,000-gallon concrete storage tank, laying new transmission and distribution pipelines, and installing a solar-powered pumping station.
The investment marked a major development for the rural community, which has been without piped water for decades.
Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Hon. Matthew Samuda, who commissioned the system, announced that “the first 100 persons who sign up will be connected free.”
He noted that the project is part of a broader national water infrastructure transformation being undertaken in communities across the parish and the wider country.
He cited a $29 million project in Retreat, which will benefit another 1,500 people, as well as the $62 million reconstruction of the collapsed Minard well, which will serve 30,000 residents upon completion.
The Minister said that through the combined efforts of the National Water Commission (NWC) and RWSL, reliable water supply has been brought to 351, 200 Jamaicans who previously lacked adequate service.
For her part, Acting Managing Director of RWSL, Murie Bennett, said that the solar-powered pumping station offers an eco-friendly and cost-effective alternative to traditional diesel-powered systems.
She commended the collaborative efforts of stakeholders, including residents, and reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to expanding reliable water access in rural communities, noting that clean water is fundamental to health, education, and economic development.
Resident and teacher at Free Hill Primary School, Elizabeth Murphy, expressed gratitude for the new system.
She urged her fellow community members to safeguard the infrastructure, noting that responsible usage would ensure long-term sustainability of the system.
“Thank you. Water is life,” Ms. Murphy said.
A JIS NEWS ARTICLE
https://jis.gov.jm/118-million-water-system-commissioned-in-free-hill-st-ann/
Hundreds of Residents to Benefit from Water Supply System in Lapland, St. James
The Full Story
Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Hon. Matthew Samuda, officially commissioned a new $23-million water supply system in the Lapland District of Catadupa, St. James, on June 4. The project, implemented by Rural Water Supply Limited, features a 20,000-gallon storage capacity, powered entirely by solar energy.
It is designed to serve approximately 1,000 residents in Lapland, Belfont and other surrounding areas.
Mr. Samuda stated that the investment is part of a broader commitment by the Government to improve access to potable water in underserved and rural communities.
“The residents that will benefit from this are no less important than those who are complaining about water shortages in the city of Montego Bay,” said Mr. Samuda.
“It also has an economic element, because it will unlock economic activity in southern St. James,”he added.
The Minister indicated that the Government plans to invest billions of dollars over the next five years, specifically into water supply for rural as well as urban communities.
“Everyone in Jamaica must have this precious commodity, and we are working around the clock to ensure we close the gaps in line with our vision 2030 commitment,” Mr. Samuda explained.
“Every household must have access to potable water, access to sewerage, and every farmer must have access to irrigation,” he added.
He outlined that over the past nine years, water supply has been improved for 350,000 Jamaicans, with an additional 38,000 targeted for improvement this year.
In the meantime, Minister of State in the Office of the Prime Minister (West), Hon. Homer Davis, underscored the advantage of the solar-powered system.
He pointed out that it can operate independently of the electrical grid, thus ensuring continued water supply, even during power outages, for Lapland and its environs.
“What I would appeal to you residents is to take care of the system,” Mr. Davis urged.
Mr. Davis, who is also Member of Parliament for the area, also revealed that several projects, valued at approximately $1.25 billion, are slated to be rolled out in the constituency over the next two to three years, and this is expected to increase potable water access to 70 per cent.
Among the upcoming initiatives is the Cambridge Water Supply project, which will be supported through funding from the Caribbean Development Bank, he added.
For his part, Chairman of the Rural Water Supply Limited, Omar Sweeney, reaffirmed the agency’s mission to deliver sustainable water and sanitation solutions across the country.
Mr. Sweeney confirmed Phase Two of the Spring Garden water supply and the Maroon Town water supply as the next projects on their agenda for the parish.
A JIS NEWS ARTICLE
https://jis.gov.jm/hundreds-of-residents-to-benefit-from-water-supply-system-in-lapland-st-james/
650 St Andrew West Rural households benefit from $47m water tank project
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Approximately 650 households across several communities in the St Andrew West Rural constituency are now benefiting from improved access to water following the commissioning of the $47 million Mount Prospect (Mount Airy) Water Tank Replacement Project.
The project was officially commissioned by Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Matthew Samuda, on Wednesday, May 8.
“This is a milestone that acknowledges that the [National] Water Commission (NWC), which you own as citizens of Jamaica, has invested $47 million into improved water supply for you. It is your government investing in your comfort, quality of life and water supply. For that, we are thankful,” Samuda said.
“This 50,000-gallon steel bolted drum is not a small piece of infrastructure. It is a large investment to facilitate increased comfort and population, and we expect it to provide a service for you for close to 30 years…But this is not a unique commitment. It is one of close to 100 projects currently being undertaken by your government, through the Rural Water Supply Limited and the NWC,” he continued.
Member of Parliament for St Andrew West Rural, Juliet Cuthbert-Flynn, welcomed the development and praised the ministry and the NWC for delivering on their promise.
“I’m pleased that this is now a reality. I remember seeing elderly persons and children in Mount Friendship carrying water on their heads. This tank is a major improvement. Lime Edge will also see new connections soon as NWC starts work this week. I thank Minister Samuda and the NWC team for their commitment and responsiveness,” she said.
Communities benefiting from the project include Mount Prospect, New Garden, Golden Spring, Mount Pleasant, Mount Friendship, Langley, Iron River, Mount Horeb, Mount Zion, Brandon Hill, and Mount James.
The project was completed in two phases. Phase one involved replacing an aged 10,000-gallon tank with a 50,000-gallon bolted steel tank. Phase two upgraded the existing two-inch and three-inch pipelines to four-inch pipelines to significantly improve water flow and distribution.
Minister Samuda underscored the historic scale of government investment in the nation’s water infrastructure.
“Today’s commissioning is evidence of the Government’s commitment to rural communities and expanding the utility’s footprint across the length and breadth of the country. In addition, we’re spending 800 million through Rural Water Supply Limited to invest in 63-plus systems for small communities just like this,” he said.
The Mount Prospect Water Tank Replacement Project is part of the government’s broader efforts to expand and modernise rural water infrastructure across the island.
JAMAICA OBSERVER NEWS ARTICLES
Press Release – Mason Hall Water Supply Commissioning Ceremony
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MARCH 26, 2025
Prime Minister to Deliver Keynote Address at
Mason Hall Water Supply Commissioning Ceremony
Dr. the Most Honourable Andrew Holness, Prime Minister of Jamaica, will deliver the keynote address at the Mason Hall Water Supply Commissioning Ceremony, scheduled for Friday, March 28, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. at Mason Hall Primary & Infant School, St. Mary.
This JMD $173 million project represents a major milestone in the government’s ongoing e2orts to improve access to potable water in rural communities. It directly addresses the longstanding water challenges faced by the residents of Mason Hall, who have struggled with limited or no access to safe water.
Phase 1 of the project will see approximately 1,100 residents gaining access to water, with an additional
900 residents set to receive access in Phase 2 which will be funded by the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB)
and the Government of Jamaica (GOJ).
As part of Phase 1, Rural Water Supply Limited (RWSL) has successfully:
- Constructed a re-lift station to enhance water distribution
- Installed more than 7 kilometers of pipeline to expand supply coverage
- Installed a pump, electrical equipment, and 16,000-gallon polyethylene storage tanks
The ceremony will also feature remarks from Hon. Matthew Samuda, Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth & Job Creation, Hon. Robert Montague, Member of Parliament, as well as local government o2icials and key stakeholders.
The Mason Hall Water Supply System Project is being implemented by RWSL in partnership with the National Water Commission (NWC) to ensure a sustainable and reliable water supply for the residents of Mason Hall and surrounding communities.
-30-
Contact:
Rural Water Supply Limited
The Towers, 3rd Floor
25 Dominica Drive
Kingston 5
876–754–5485
Improved Water Supply Coming for Residents in Six Parishes
Residents living in housing schemes across six parishes are set to experience significant improvement in their water supply, through a multi-year project funded by the Government of Jamaica and the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB).
A sum of $300 million has been allocated for the 2025/26 fiscal year to drive the Rural Water Supply Improvement Project forward.
The project, expected to conclude in March 2029, will bring reliable potable water infrastructure to non-utility service areas in St Mary, Trelawny, Clarendon, St Elizabeth, and St Thomas.
The project will directly address the challenges faced by residents of Agualta Vale/Jordan Run and Mason Hall in St. Mary, Albert Town/Ulster Spring in Trelawny, Kemps Hill in Clarendon, Union/Balaclava in St Elizabeth and Port Morant/Airy Castle in St Thomas.
In the coming fiscal year, Rural Water Supply Limited, under the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, will focus on establishing the project management unit (PMU) for the initiative.
The agency will also focus on procuring office equipment for the PMU, procuring motor vehicles, and securing contractors for the various schemes.
The collaborative effort between the Jamaican Government and the CDB will cost a total of $5.7 billion over an estimated five years.
The Government will contribute $987 million of that sum while the CDB will provide $4.7 billion in loan financing.
https://jamaica-star.com/article/news/20250226/improved-water-supply-coming-residents-six-parishes
$15 Billion Being Spent to Provide Potable Water Across the Island
The Government is spending more than $15 billion, through its water agencies, to boost potable water systems across the island, says Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Hon. Matthew Samuda.
He pointed out that the regular budget of the Rural Water Supply Limited (RWSL) has been increased by $6 billion as part of its continuing drive to ensure that communities can have improved and regular access to water.
“We are investing a further $5 billion through the NWA (National Works Agency), to relay pipes on roads that are being rehabilitated under the $40-billion Shared Prosperity through Accelerated Improvement to Our Road Network (SPARK) Programme,” the Minister told his audience, at the recent breaking of ground for the $300-million Hampshire/Riversdale Water Supply System in St. Catherine.
Mr. Samuda said the National Housing Trust (NHT), has a programme of work where they are improving roads, the sidewalks, supporting infrastructure like pipes, and “investing several billion dollars into the water networks of these older communities” that were built by the Government of Jamaica long before the 1980s.
The Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF), the Minister reported, is at “midway in a $1-billion investment in Southern St. James, so we are way over $15 billion being invested by agencies other than the National Water Commission into your water supply”.
“This is because of good management of the economy, good management of the country. But I do not want you to think that NWC (National Water Commission) is also not investing. The NWC is midway in a $4-billion investment now, and we expect to invest some $15 billion over the next 18 months, which, among other things, will enable a major pipeline that will see water move from Martha Brae (Trelawny) all the way into St. James, and from the Great River all the way to Western Westmoreland,” he said.
The RWSL is an agency of the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, with a mission to design, plan, and implement potable water infrastructure.
The NWC, which is also an agency of the Government, has a mission to “contribute positively” to national development by providing “high-quality” potable water and sewerage services to residents, and businesses in a “cost-effective and sustainable manner”.
Under Vision 2030 Jamaica, water is considered a fundamental strategic resource that is not only necessary for improved quality of life for the population but also one which could provide the country with a competitive advantage.
The Plan recognises the importance of sanitation and hygiene to support human health, protect ecosystems and reduce poverty.
Vision 2030 Jamaica is the country’s first long-term National Development Plan, which aims at enabling Jamaica to achieve developed country status by 2030.
It is based on a comprehensive vision: ‘Jamaica, the place of choice to live, work, raise families and do business’.
https://jis.gov.jm/15-billion-being-spent-to-provide-potable-water-across-the-island/
15,000 Southern St James residents to benefit from J$800m water supply upgrade
Jamaica Gleaner Article
WESTERN BUREAU:
Approximately 15,000 residents are to benefit from an investment of $800 million to upgrade the water supply systems in St James Southern, which will be carried out over the next three years, starting on April 1, 2024.
Senator Matthew Samuda, the minister without portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, announced the project last week while on a tour to evaluate the capabilities of the water supply systems in that rural constituency.
Homer Davis, state minister in the Office of Prime Minister, who is also the member of parliament (MP) for the area, as well as senior representatives of the National Water Commission (NWC) and the Rural Water Supply Limited (RWSL), were present with him.
“Over the next three calendar years, we should be able to make the J$800-million investment that would significantly change lives for about 15,000 people in this space,” Samuda said at the end of the tour.
“We expect to work very closely with the member of parliament and the councillors to ensure that, on a phased basis, every quarter, we are able to report improvement for two to three thousand families,” the portfolio minister for water stated.
He noted that, over time, the necessary investment programmes will be put in place to address the needs of the people in these communities, many of whom have experienced water challenges for more than 30 years.
One of the projects that the NWC and RWSL will work on together is the Cambridge Treatment Facility, which will cost J$240 million to upgrade. Another project is the Endeavour Water Supply Facility, which will cost J$550 million to upgrade.
Significant Investment
Davis, the MP for the constituency, welcomed the projected upgrades, reporting that they are part of what he called consistent representation at work on behalf of the people. The upgrades, he argued, represent a significant investment in the people of Southern St James.
“In three years’ time, most of these communities that have never enjoyed potable water on a consistent basis will see a vast improvement in their water supplies,” Davis told The Gleaner.
“I must say to the people of South St James, it has been long in coming,” he added.
Audley Thompson, managing director of RWSL, said the agency has already completed designs on several of the projects, paving the way for the rollout of the rehabilitation works.
“For the Maroon Town/Tangle River System, the designs have been completed. The system has basically started already because we have procured pipes and a filter. We have done several small systems, including the Spring Gardens System, and we’re looking at the Lapland System and Catadupa systems,” Thompson informed.
Meanwhile, Delano Williams, the acting communications manager at the NWC, noted that the Tangle River community is already benefiting from the installation of a new 100,000-gallon tank. This, he said, has increased the distribution capacity of the community.
“If there is a little bit of a lull in inflows or if there are any turbidity issues, we are still able to serve a section of the community. This would be a more immediate remedial action activity, while the NWC and Rural Water Supply are undertaking a larger plan to overhaul the systems between Top and Bottom Roper and expand the infrastructure there,” Williams explained.
He added that areas such as Maroon Town are also expected to benefit from another 50,000-gallon tank, from which water will be pumped to an elevated area and then gravity-fed to the communities.
More water solutions coming for St Catherine
Jamaica Gleaner Article
FOR DECADES, the north-eastern section of St Catherine has struggled with persistent water crises. And despite the residents’ calls for help from various parliamentary representatives, the long-standing problem has remained largely unresolved.
Recent efforts have resulted in slight improvements, and on Thursday, there was promise for better through the rural resilience tank programme to come on stream in September.
A number of key stakeholders toured two water systems in the area and scrutinised existing infrastructure while highlighting work needed to provide service that better suits the residents’ thirst for water.
The group included Senator Matthew Samuda, minister without portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation; St Catherine North Eastern Member of Parliament Kerensia Morrison; and representatives from Rural Water Supply Limited, the National Water Commission, and the St Catherine Municipal Corporation.
The first stop was in the community of Hamwalk, where $63 million was spent to complete the system in 2019, and another small river system in Pear Tree – that is costing $18 million – that uses solar power installed by the Rural Water Supply Limited.
“As small as these systems are, they benefited some 5,000 people, and what it shows is an integration of several government agencies working together in a collaborative effort to provide water to the residents,” Samuda told reporters. “But we also see very clearly the challenges that we face.
“It is no secret that the cost to the National Water Commission to provide water to Jamaican households is in excess of a billion dollars,” added Samuda, who noted that the cost was unsustainable.
Even though the cost to provide water to the area is significant, the minister said the Government must work with the Jamaica Public Service Company Limited while creating renewable-energy initiatives to reduce electricity costs so that more Jamaicans can benefit.
Based on his assessment, the minister also concluded that the area is being affected by hydrological drought.
As a result, he announced the Government’s intention to temporarily truck water to the affected communities, especially Riversdale.
“But what I will say is that this community will be one of the targeted communities to benefit from the Government’s rural resilience tank programme, which is expected to kick off next month,” Samuda disclosed.
He said this would see some 50,000 black tanks distributed and installed with appropriate rainwater harvesting infrastructure, which is expected to start over the next two years.
Samuda said Riversdale would receive a $150-million water supply upgrade in the upcoming fiscal year that would benefit around 5,000 people.
According to him, the engineering solutions and the source solution that will provide potable water regularly and in the volume that is required have been looked at, and against that background, he can make a commitment.
He attributed the challenge of a comprehensive solution to the water crisis in St Catherine Northeastern and Jamaica primarily to financial constraints. Nevertheless, he said the Government remained committed to providing potable water to every home as part of its strategic plan.
https://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/lead-stories/20230811/more-water-solutions-coming-st-catherine