Rayon Dyer, Gleaner Writer
BLACK RIVER, St. Elizabeth:
RAYMOND NESBETH, revenue recovery analyst at the National Water Commission's (NWC) western division, said residents in communities such as New Forest, Comma Pen and Bull Savannah, currently owed the NWC some $26.7 million in unpaid water bills. Speaking with The Gleaner last Friday, Mr. Nesbeth said that other residents in the Alligator Pond area also owed the commission.
He said the NWC had been trying to collect the figures quoted for a number of years.
RECOVERING OUTSTANDING SUMS
"We have implemented a number of measures at the community level to recover the outstanding sums. A house-to-house campaign was also conducted by the NWC to sensitise the residents to the importance of paying their water bills," the recovery analyst said.
In a related issue, according to Lisa Golding of the NWC's community relations department, western division, "The problem of illegal water connection in areas such as New Forest, Comma Pen, Bull Savannah, Duff House and Cheapside is still evident. The illegal connections to the NWC's main line have been a real challenge for us at the commission."
She said the result of the numerous illegal connections was low water pressure or no water at all to legitimate customers. Ms. Golding said that her department would continue to work with the residents, despite the challenges.
