These water containers tell the tale. Residents of Bamboo Corner in Glengoffe, St. Catherine, said they tried to put adequate water storage facilities in place so they could 'catch up' on what they had been missing. This is an example from the home of Garry Williams, who has lived in the community for over 40 years. - contributed

WHAT'S NOT WORKING?

Let us first clear the reservoir ... oops, I had meant to say air. The Tyrone's Watch team does not deliberately set out to highlight water problems in the nation's communities as its sole purpose. However, it is shocking that such a large number of communities suffer the inconvenience of not getting a regular supply of piped water.

One such community is the small district of Bamboo Corner, in Glengoffe, St. Catherine.

SYNOPSIS OF THE SITUATION:

Almost a decade has passed since Garry Williams last remembers having potable water in the pipes of his house for an entire day. For this glaucoma patient, 1998 was his last memory. Since then, he and other residents have had to depend on the somewhat 'surprisingly' spontaneous supply they receive from the National Water Commission (NWC). "We get water from them twice per week (Tuesday and Friday) for about two hours each day," Williams said. "They don't advise us what time of the day we will get it, we are left at their mercy. Sometimes you have to be up until midnight just to ensure that when the water comes in the pipe you catch some because you don't know when it will be in the pipes."

Unpredictable supply

Dwane, another resident from the district, supported the claim. He said he lost track of the last time he had the opportunity to flush his toilet by just pressing the lever. As for bathing in his shower, that is an activity the 'unpredictable' water supply has made scarce.

Residents now have to depend on nearby rivers as a more reliable source of water.

Dwane bemoaning why the 'skimpy' water supply pumped into the small community of some 20 houses, contradicted the water company's slogan. "Bwoy, dem sey water is life, but we hardly getting any water and dat sey something bad about our life."

WHO'S RESPONSIBLE?

National Water Commission.

WHAT'S THE STATUS?

Charles Buchanan, corporate public relations manager at the NWC, said he was unaware of the dreaded plight of Bamboo Corner residents and would do further research after which he would then provide Tyrone's Watch with the relevant information. He, however, said that he had knowledge that the NWC facility that supplied the extensive Glengoffe area was operating at a severely low capacity.

CONCLUSION:

What more can I say? In a previous watch I relayed the torment I lived through after not having piped water for some eight hours. I would not want to imagine not having this necessity of water for at least 20 hours per day.

Sad to say, the residents in Bamboo Corner have been living through this hell every day for the last eight years.

Given that the water crisis in the community may not be rectified immediately, the NWC needs to notify the deprived residents as to what time of day water will be pumped into their pipes instead of having them stage 'night watches' for it.

This instalment of Tyrone's Watch was done by Marlon Vickerman, Gleaner Writer.

We want to hear from you!

Tell us about problems in your community. We will visit and help to lobby for action. Write to: Tyrone Reid, The Gleaner Company Limited, 7 North Street, P.O. Box 40, Kingston Fax: 922-6223, Telephone: 922-3400 Ext. 6364 or email: tyrone.reid@gleanerjm.com