Jamaica to invest in catchment tank restoration

Jamaica will invest 45.2mn Jamaican dollars (US$407,300) for the rehabilitation of 30 rainwater catchment tanks.

The project is part of the country's rainwater harvesting and catchment tank rehabilitation program which began in 2012, according to state news site Jamaica Information Service.

Works are to be distributed across parishes of Clarendon, Manchester, Saint Ann, Saint Elizabeth, and Westmoreland, while a primary objective of the project will be the replacement of tank covers with ferro cement light weight roofing provided by state-agency Rural Water Supply.

The move is intended to safeguard the island country against drought and the impact of future climate change. A total of 50.7mn Jamaican dollars were invested over the 2013-14 financial year for the rehabilitation of 39 catchment tanks, the release added.