Left: Clive Welsh, a resident of Whitewater Meadows - a community plagued by low water pressure - is forced to fill his machine with water.   Right: Constrcution workers on site at this house on Whitewater Boulevard in Whitewater Meadows, St. Catherine, told our news team that the low water pressure forces them to ensure that this tank is filled overnight so that they have water for the next working day.

WHAT'S NOT WORKING?

The constant cry of Jamaicans pleading for proper roads and the efficient supply of potable water from the relevant authorities is like a recurring decimal. This time the cry is from Whitewater Meadows in St. Catherine.

SYNOPSIS OF THE SITUATION

People from the community are desperately requesting that both problems be addressed by the parish council and the National Water Commission (NWC).

Clive Welsh, who has lived in the area for five years, laments that in addition to paying a reasonably high bill for the poor water service he receives, his distress is worsened by the fact that the Hartland road is an expensive thorn in his side, as it constantly inflicts costly damage to his vehicle.

Charmaine, from Basset Road in the community, said:

"The Hartland road is basically our only way in and its condition is extremely bad and is getting even worse," she said. "I hate driving on that road." She has lived in the area since January and uses a bucket to bathe.

"Almost every night we have to set up and catch water because as early as 6:00 a.m. it cuts off, so my household and I have to rely on what we have stored overnight." She also said that weekends are a disaster because the pipes may remain dry until 9:00 p.m.

Slow and steady: These motorists slow to a crawl just to avoid damaging their vehicles in the potholes on Hartland Road, which leads to the Whitewater Meadows community in St. Catherine. - photos by Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer

WHAT'S THE STATUS?

Parish Council

"We are very much strapped for cash, that's the bottom line," said Dr. Andrew Wheatley, Mayor of Spanish Town. "I got a letter from the residents and I forwarded it to the Ministry and they are in the process of sourcing money to deal with that road."

Mayor Wheatley said he cannot give the residents a set date to expect the repairs because the parish council has to await a response from the Ministry regarding the availability of funds.

NWC

"A change is going to come." This is not a recitation of a line from one of Sam Cooke's most renowned hits. On the contrary, it is the sentiment posited by Charles Buchanan, corporate and public relations manager at the NWC.

He stated that the primary reason for the low water pressure being experienced by residents of Whitewater Meadows was the frequent dysfunctions plaguing the Spanish Town treatment plant which services Whitewater and other adjoining areas. He also noted that occasional high turbidity in the Rio Cobre may result in the low water pressure experienced in the area.

"We expect some improvement to the next situation over the next two to three months," Buchanan affirmed. "An additional well will be put into operation in the service area, this will add to the amount of water available to these customers."

He also assured residents that the 'final fix to their water problems' will be seen with the completion of the multimillion-dollar Kingston Metropolitan Area Water Supply Rehabilitation project. Mr. Buchanan said the multimillion-dollar project already under way and to be completed in 2009 will upgrade the overall service plants in the Kingston Metropolitan Area and this will be reflected in the post-KMA water project services.

WHO'S RESPONSIBLE?

The St. Catherine Parish Council and the National Water Commission.

Conclusion

Surprisingly, Mayor Wheatley told the Tyrone's Watch team that the Hartland road was in a deplorable condition before Whitewater Meadows emerged as a community (some two years ago). That makes one wonder, why hasn't the issue been addressed as yet?

As it relates to the NWC, they have promised a change within the next three months, which might seem a long wait for the residents. But, the residents have no other choice but to do just that while bathing from their pails and storing their water when they have been privileged to it.

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 Ltd., 7 North Street, Kingston; Fax: 922-6223, Telephone: 922-3400 Ext. 6364 or Email:tyrone.reid@gleanerjm.com.