Minister inks US$33mn contracts for water system works

Jamaica's housing, environment and water minister, Horace Chang, has signed four contracts worth a combined J$2.8bn (US$32.7mn) to improve water systems across the country. The national water commission ( NWC) is in charge of improving the Clarks Town water system in the Trelawny region, which channels water from the Martha Braw treatment plant to towns such as Duncans, Silversand, Spicy Hill and Georgia. These areas currently receive water via asbestos cement pipelines, which frequently leak and disrupt water supply. NWC will also expand the St Andrew sewerage network in Surrey county to capture wastewater from the Mona/Liguanea area. Other work in the Kingston metropolitan area entails replacing the water supply network in Greater Spanish Town, increasing water supply by 5Mg/d, and more. Finally, NWC will repair the Mona potable water plant in St Andrew parish, overhauling rapid gravity filters, replacing the filter media and installing controls, meters and equipment.