A USEFUL debate may have been started about the quality and quantity of water in Jamaica by an article from Basil P. Fernandez, managing director of the Water Resources Authority, published on Wednesday.
An acknowledged authority on the subject, Mr. Fernandez wrote in response to Peter Espeut's column of May 15 titled "Water, water everywhere". Himself a noted environmentalist, Mr. Espeut anticipates that a major issue of the 21st century in this island will be a shortage of clean fresh water for domestic consumption.
To begin with Mr. Fernandez challenged the claim of the columnist that 100 Jamaican rivers dried up in the 20th century. Not so, Mr. Fernandez says. Many of the rivers that had stopped flowing are seasonal; that is, they are dependent on rainfall, and others have been affected by the development of groundwater.
That development involves the drilling of wells for irrigation and other purposes which are now regulated by legislation. Quality control involves minimising contamination, with sewage systems eventually replacing soakaway pits - a long-term objective for the entire city of Kingston, for example.
In contrast to Mr. Espeut's pessimism, Mr. Hernandez says the Water Resources Master Plan of 1995 has projected that up to year 2015 "there is enough water to meet all forseeable demands" across the island.
In downplaying 'the bottled water fad' as a status symbol he rates Jamaica's water quality as excellent, meeting the highest American and WHO drinking water standards.
We note, however, that this debate has not covered an aspect of water which may be of most concern to Corporate Area residents in particular. The perennial rationing of supplies during drought periods suggests that the storage facilities are woefully inadequate.
There has been talk in the past about dredging siltation from the Hermitage and Mona Dams; it is not clear whether groundwater development makes this unnecessary. It may well be that other factors such as environmental degradation of the watersheds are more critical. In any event we accept the proposition that public education about the importance of water conservation is an essential factor.
THE OPINIONS ON THIS PAGE, EXCEPT FOR THE ABOVE, DO NOT NECESSARILY REFLECT THE VIEWS OF THE GLEANER.
