By Erica James-King, Staff Reporter
Head of the Moore Town Maroons, Colonel Wallace Sterling, helps in pipe-laying activities for the Moore Town Water Improvement Project. - Carlington Wilmot /Freelance Photographer
IN MOORE Town, Seaman's Valley and Windsor in East Portland this land of Maroons, mountain springs, Nanny Falls and babbling brooks things are far from normal these days. Life has taken on a dry, dusty, lethargic turn.
In this parish, known for its frequent, torrential rainfall, several springs are drying up, contracting the lifeblood of the people in the rural communities of Moore Town, Seaman's Valley and Windsor.
"Traditionally, for every little pocket of Moore Town, there were several springs that the people use. Now during this harsh dry season, several of the springs have dried up or are reduced to a trickle," Colonel Wallace Sterling, Moore Town Maroon chief, pointed out.
Some householders in Moore Town don't have to travel to springs to get water, but the spring comes to them. This means there are pipes carrying the water from the spring to the homes. But this too has its problems.
Not only is the pressure very low, since the spring water is being depleted due to the dry conditions which generally last from December to April, but the pipes are also too narrow in certain sections. This restricts the flow from the spring.
"If the water coming from the spring was sufficient, I could get water in my house but, right now, I am without piped water," says Burchell McKenzie, who has lived in Moore Town for two years and has hit frustration levels over the water problem. "I have no pipe water at my home in Barry Hill, Moore Town. I have to walk three-quarter mile to the spring to get washing and other things done."
Mr. McKenzie is of the view that if the pipe distribution system was more extensive and had an adequate source able to pump water far uphill, he would be able to get water into his home.
Sixty-eight-year-old Alstyle McFarlane who has lived in Moore Town all his life agrees.
"When I was growing up as a child, I never dreamt that we could have springs drying up, but it's happening. So we must find a way to channel pipe water to all residents in Moore Town and surroundings," the senior citizen suggested.
