THE NATIONAL Water Commission (NWC) had good and bad news yesterday for customers in Kingston, St. Andrew and St. Thomas.
On the good side, the NWC expected to complete emergency repairs to the New Pera/Phillips-field plant today so normal piped water supply could be restored to several St. Thomas communities including Pera, New Pera, sections of Barking Lodge and Phillipsfield.
Residents in several other communities, on the other hand, will have to make do with low water pressure and periods of no water for perhaps two or more months.
The Commission said it would take time to obtain repair parts or replacements for recently damaged pumps at two NWC plants in the Metro Region.
Don Cooper, Metro Region's community relations officer, said yesterday that orders had been placed for replacements but that it might take some time to receive them and complete repairs.
"A replacement is being sought. We are hoping to have that in two months," Mr. Cooper said, referring to the Rockhall pump, which was damaged in late July. He could not give a timeline on the pump at the Hope Filter plant.
Among the areas to be affected are Papine, Kintyre, Hope Flats, August Town, Gordon Town, Rockhall, Mount Atlas, Belvedere, Red Hills Road and Coopers Hill.
Electrical and mechanical faults had destroyed pumps at the Hope Filter Plant and at a plant in the Rockhall area.
In the meantime, Mr. Cooper said the NWC would continue to re-route supplies so that all affected communities would receive water on a scheduled basis. The NWC would also continue to truck water to affected areas and was asking persons with tanks and other facilities to store water.
Mr. Cooper said repairs had already been carried out at the NWC's Chancery Hall plant, which serves the Havendale, Meadowbrook, Molynes Road and Forrest Hill Gardens.
