By Angelo Laurence, Gleaner WriterMANDEVILLE:
THE WATER supply systems for Mandeville and adjoining areas are slated to be improved at a cost of more than $115 million by the end of September ,according to Donald Buchanan, the Minister responsible for water.
Minister Buchanan, who was speaking in Mandeville on Sunday, said a French company has already carried out an assessment of greater Mandeville water supply system and their recommendations are now being implemented. He said that the firm discovered 80 major leaks, which were robbing the town of a significant amount of water.
Minister Buchanan said that a new lift pump will be installed at Gutters in St. Elizabeth and another at the Spur Tree pumping station at a cost of $50 million. A new well will also be brought on stream at a cost of $65 million which, according to Minister Buchanan, will put an end to the water woes of the town.
NEW TECHNOLOGY
He said that new technology will be used in the execution of the work and Martha Brae in Trelawny will be benefitting from planned improvement to their water system.
The news was a welcomed one for many residents at the meeting who told The Gleaner that they have been waiting "long enough". Jarnett Reid, of the DeCarteret Road area, said water lock-offs had become a normality over the last six years, sometimes lasting for weeks. She said the water lock-offs did not deter the National Water Commission (NWC) from sending out 'high' water bills every month.
Others of the town, including the members of the Manchester Parish Council, have been expressing their dissatisfaction with NWC over the years.
Things came to a head at the beginning of the year when Deputy Mayor and Councillor for the Mandeville division organised several demonstrations in front of the NWC offices on Villa Road and Ward Ave to demand improvement in the supply of water to the residents.
