Ian Allen/Staff Photographer
A resident of the Greater Portmore community attempts to blow black metallic particles from his water meter.
Teino Evans, Staff Reporter
RESIDENTS IN several communities in Greater Portmore are applying their own brand of self-help after appeals to the National Water Commission (NWC) to deal with a mysterious black substance from their drinking water supply seem to have fallen on deaf ears.
The debris, which resembles metallic particles, is found in large quantities in the meter which becomes clogged within weeks.
THE MUCK
"Many mornings we have to screw off the meter to clear out the muck to get a bath before leaving for work," one resident told The Sunday Gleaner.
Other residents explained that when the meter becomes clogged, water is not able to flow freely to the pipes.
They say they have contacted the local NWC office on several occasions, but the problem persists.
Now, they have decided to take matters into their own hands, as the waiting period (four working days) is simply too long and the problem has serious health implications.
One man says he has become the unofficial plumber for his community, as residents rely on him to fix their meters when they become clogged.
But this, he acknowledges, is illegal.
"NWC tell us that it's $20,000 or three months imprisonment if we tamper with the meters in any way," he said.
Some other residents have resorted to tying old stockings and rags onto their faucets in an effort to strain the black particles from the water. Others, who just can't be bothered, do nothing, saying it's just a risk they have to take.
Some residents say they prefer to purchase bottled spring water in the supermarkets when they can afford to, utilising gallons of it each week. These persons have had to set aside money in their budget for the added expense.
Charles Buchanan, communi-cations manager at the NWC, told The Sunday Gleaner that the Commission had been aware of some of the problems, and said they were being addressed.
According to Mr. Buchanan, the black particles in resident's water was caused by a Manganese (mineral) deposit, which when combined with other minerals in the water, produced the black particles seen.
He said the particles were in no way a health hazard, but admitted that it could easily become a nuisance to residents.
According to Mr. Buchanan, the problem may be greater in some areas depending on the regularity in disturbances of water supply.
"In the periods like now, when the system is interrupted much more frequently, the problem will appear to be worse," he says.
Despite the problems, however, residents say they regularly receive exorbitant water bills.
According to one resident, he received a bill in September of this year, which totalled $64,000. When he made enquiries at the local NWC office in Portmore, he was told that the (current) bill would be 'overlooked' and was instructed instead to pay the amount he had been billed for and had paid the previous month.
NEITHER CONFIRM NOR DENY
When contacted the local NWC office in Portmore, Customer Service Representative, Ewald Cassie, could neither confirm nor deny this complaint.
On the matter of exorbitant water bills, Mr. Buchanan pointed out that leaks and malfunctioning toilets could be responsible.
Camille Drake, the NWC's community relations officer for St. Catherine, explained too that Portmore's water supply had always been a cause of concern.
She also pointed out that with more and more houses being built in Portmore, tied with the extremely limited supply of water, "the situation can become ticklish at times. In the mornings and on weekends when residents use their water the most, we know that the situation can get really bad."
She said plans were now in place to improve the water supply in the area as the NWC will be embarking on a multimillion dollar project to improve St. Catherine's water supply.
