Jamaica’s water crisis deepens as NWC systems enter drought territory
Key Points(5)
- Jamaica’s water crisis is deepening, with 107 of the National Water Commission’s (NWC) 405 reserve systems now in drought territory as several parishes continue to face strict water restrictions.
- Water, Environment and Climate Change Minister Matthew Samuda has warned that restrictions could become even tighter next week as the country grapples with worsening drought conditions and limited rainfall forecasts.
- Speaking during Wednesday’s post-Cabinet press briefing, Samuda said some communities could face day-on, day-off water supplies as the situation deteriorates.
- He said rainfall projections for drought-affected parishes remain bleak for the coming months, prompting the Government to take additional measures to help communities manage the shortage.
- As part of the response, Samuda said his ministry has begun emergency procurement procedures to purchase 5,000 black water tanks for distribution to vulnerable groups and communities.
Jamaica’s water crisis is deepening, with 107 of the National Water Commission’s (NWC) 405 reserve systems now in drought territory as several parishes continue to face strict water restrictions.
Water, Environment and Climate Change Minister Matthew Samuda has warned that restrictions could become even tighter next week as the country grapples with worsening drought conditions and limited rainfall forecasts.
Speaking during Wednesday’s post-Cabinet press briefing, Samuda said some communities could face day-on, day-off water supplies as the situation deteriorates.
He said rainfall projections for drought-affected parishes remain bleak for the coming months, prompting the Government to take additional measures to help communities manage the shortage.
As part of the response, Samuda said his ministry has begun emergency procurement procedures to purchase 5,000 black water tanks for distribution to vulnerable groups and communities.
Of those, 1,000 tanks will be allocated to early childhood institutions working with the Early Childhood Commission as they go through the certification process.
Another 1,000 will be distributed by the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) to farmers.
Samuda said the support is aimed at protecting farmers’ livelihoods and food security as the drought affects agricultural communities.
The third group to receive tanks will be households with persons with disabilities.
“We will be providing tanks to households with persons with disabilities who need it, and we’re working on the screening process with the Ministry of Labour,” Samuda said.
The remaining 2,000 tanks will be distributed based on assessments by the Water Resources Authority, Rural Water Supply Limited and the NWC.
Samuda said officials are identifying communities where water is safe but household storage capacity is inadequate.
“One of the challenges we have when we see trucks going into particular communities and see people running out with buckets and jars and all sorts of things is because at the household level they don’t have sufficient storage,” he said.
He said the Government would focus on communities facing some of the most severe challenges, particularly in eastern Jamaica.
“Where we’re having some of these challenges in the eastern half of the island, we’ll be going into communities and intervening as best as is humanly possible with the remaining 2,000,” Samuda said.
The Government is also installing 100 wayside water tanks at strategic locations, mainly across eastern Jamaica, as part of its response to the drought.
The measures come as water restrictions remain in effect in several parishes and the number of NWC systems affected by drought continues to rise.
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