Trelawny's multi-billion dollar water system unveiled

The Government is projecting that some J$6.5 billion will be spent on upgrading water supply in Trelawny, ultimately resulting in 93 per cent of the parish's population being supplied by 2030.

According to Minister of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change, Robert Pickersgill, the ambitious programme is also aimed at reducing non-revenue water by 30 per cent and improving water-supply service reliability.

"Ladies and gentlemen, despite severe financial challenges, the National Water Commission (NWC), since 2012, has undertaken several projects here in north Trelawny, in furtherance of its objectives of contributing to national development and improving the lives of our citizens," said Pickersgill, while giving the keynote address at the official commissioning ceremony for the rehabilitation of the six million gallon per day (MGD) water treatment plant and the unveiling of a new five- MGD facility in Martha Brae, Trelawny.

The historic Martha Brae treatment plant (which was the source of the first piped water in the western hemisphere) which was completed at a cost of $1.6 billion will now supply the parishes of Trelawny, St Ann, St James, Hanover and Westmoreland with its 11-MGD output.

The NWC has invested $380 million to undertake network management, revenue protection and metering activities in the western parishes to support the state entity's drive for greater efficiency.

Pickersgill also revealed that work was carried out on the Clark's Town Water Supply System, which supplies over 6,675 individuals in the communities of Silver Sands, Duncans, Georgia and Clark's Town.