THREE NATIONAL Water Commission (NWC) sewage treatment plants in St. Catherine are deteriorating and operating below the required standards, the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) has said. The three plants are in Bridgeport, Greater Portmore and Independence City.
Leader of Government Business in the Senate, Senator Burchell Whiteman, made the disclosure in the Senate on Friday, while responding to questions posed by Opposition Senator, Arthur Williams.
Leader of Opposition Business in the Senate, Senator Anthony Johnson, said he was concerned about the health risks to residents in these communities.
But Senator Whiteman said there were no immediate health risks.
"Based on the information received by me, there is no immediate threat to health because, had there been, then the public health authorities would have taken the necessary action to close them down and relocate the people," he said.
"The fact is that there is no threat to health but the conditions will have to be ameliorated," he said.
Mr. White told the Senate that the NWC was proposing to expand and upgrade the Caymanas Gardens Sewage Treatment Plant by 2010, while rehabilitation is to take place at Hamilton Gardens, Lime Tree Grove and the Greater Portmore ponds by 2009, 2010 and 2011, respectively.
