By George Henry, Gleaner Writer 
Buchanan
SPALDINGS, Clarendon:
THE RURAL community of Spaldings in Clarendon is to have its own water supply by the year 2006, says Water and Housing Minister, Donald Buchanan.
Speaking at a Face to Face meeting at the United Church Hall in that town on Thursday, Mr. Buchanan said the Spaldings-Christiana water supply is to
be upgraded to the tune of $152 million.
He stated that the project which is slated to commence in July next year, and which is scheduled for completion before the end of 2006, is to be funded by the European Union in partnership with the Jamaican Government. The partnership with the Government, The European Union and the Inter-American Development Bank will see an investment of some $400 million in the water sector in the parish of Clarendon.
DESIGN ACTIVITIES
"In January of this year the work of the consultants started with respect to investigations and design activities of this project. The consultants have completed their work in respect of the ...inspection and asset condition report, production of the unaccounted for water report and production of the final engineering design report," said the Water and Housing Minister.
As a result of the work which has already been completed, Mr. Buchanan said the preparation of documents for the supply of materials and the award of contracts for the Spaldings Water Supply system are now ready.
He said based on the completion of the initial work, tenders for the supply of material and the work contract which will be involved in the construction of the project are expected to go to tender before the end of December this year.
Mr. Buchanan in giving an idea as to what the project will involve, said a new intake system will be constructed at the Yankee River. Also, there will be a new Water Treatment Plant at the Two-Meeting Bridge near Alston and other developments to take water to the town of Spaldings. Plans are also afoot to build a new pumping main from the water treatment plant to Baillieston where a new storage reservoir will be built and a new high-lift pumping station will also be installed. He also said a new pumping station is to be constructed at Spaldings and that the entire transmission network in the area is to be upgraded.
BENEFIT
Meanwhile, the community of Spaldings and its environs are not the only Clarendon communities that are slated to benefit from improvements in water supply. The Water and Housing Minister also disclosed that the Milk River and the Gravel Hill water supplies are to be upgraded as well.
With the funding from the European Union, other water supply systems, such as those in Kellits and Crofts Hill, will also be upgraded. The Kellits project is expected to cost $89 million. Mr. Buchanan said that the Milk River project which is expected to cost $70 million is to start in May of next year.
