Jamaica has long been characterized as “the land of wood and water” which bespeaks the fact that Jamaica has considerable water resources, garnered primarily through groundwater abstraction. However, largely through uncoordinated policy implementation and enforcement, there has been a systematic increase in the contamination of several of these groundwater sources, which has culminated in the fact that the potable water sources for the urban areas are now remote to these areas. Some of the contributing factors are:
The relatively high use of pit latrines and absorption pits which have over time through seepage compromised the aquifers;
The unregulated use and disposal of fertilizers and other chemicals (including industrial effluent), which have contaminated the groundwater sources.
However, the irony of the situation is that the Jamaican State is deemed to be a major contributor to the contamination of the environment. Indeed, in the context of the parishes of Kingston and St Andrew, the Soapberry Waste Water Treatment Plant is now just being commissioned into service putting to an end a period of years when there were no functional treatment plants. Even so, according to KSAC Mayor Senator Desmond McKenzie only 35% of residencies in the Corporate Area are attached to the sewer system with the majority in the foreseeable future continuing to rely on more traditional waste disposal mechanisms. In this regard, private contractors estimate that to facilitate connection of the residencies to the central sewer line will cost approximately J$250,000 per household which has proven to be somewhat of a deterrent. However, just being in relative close proximity to the sewer line (attached or not) in Seymour Lands and other areas increases the density from 30 to 50 habitable rooms per acre and attracts a 100% surcharge on water bills, whether or not there is a functional treatment plant and recently re-imposed a monthly cess known as the K-factor - which finances capital projects that would not generate a significant increase in revenue. Nevertheless, this has not impacted the continued flow of 20 million gallons of waste water and 1.5 million gallons of solid waste into the Kingston Harbour daily
Further, due to insufficient investment in the upgrading and maintenance of infrastructure there are problems relating to low pressure and insufficient flow largely attributable to an insufficiency in the size of the inflow pipes in Kingston and St Andrew. Indeed, given the age of the infrastructure it is believed that the water flow is also being compromised by the corrosion and calcification of pipes. This difficulty is more pronounced in the older parts of the island as well as newer developments, which have been constructed on the initial infrastructure works as obtains particularly in Seymour Lands one of the oldest residential districts in Jamaica but where density ratios have been increased by 66% in recent times. Water supplies to these communities are therefore unable to attain the minimum standard set by the Office of Utilities Regulation (O.U.R) of 20 psi.
However, according to Vernon Barrett, Vice-President of Corporate and Strategic Planning at the National Water Commission, the state owned utility has been constrained by capacity limitations arising from poor settlement planning. Further Mr. Barrett, reportedly advised The Gleaner that developers and settlers often fail to properly assess the feasibility of water supply before building houses. The NWC says it is aiming to extend its island-wide coverage over the next five to seven years to 85 per cent, up from its current service output of 71 per cent. This however is in stark contrast to the information provided by both the KSAC and the National Environment and Planning Agency, where both regulatory bodies advise that all new developments must first receive the approval of the NWC in terms of the availability of supply.
This has been of particular concern, as no new supplies have been brought into the Trafalgar Council Communities, despite a plethora of high density developments receiving state approvals over the past three (3) years. Further, according to data provided by the National Water Commission (NWC) and reported in the Economic and Social Survey (2008), water production for Kingston, St Andrew and St Thomas declined by 7.2 percent in 2006 and increased by a mere 2.7 percent in 2007. In the meantime, the number of connections in the above named parishes, increased by a whopping 14.9 percent in 2007 alone. This explains the low water pressure or in other cases the absence of water from the affected communities, a situation which worsens with the addition of each new development. Nevertheless, the approvals for new multi-storey high density developments in Seymour Lands and the residential sections of New Kingston continue unabated and also continue to receive the blessing of the NWC, according to the KSAC and NEPA.
The relatively high use of pit latrines and absorption pits which have over time through seepage compromised the aquifers;
The unregulated use and disposal of fertilizers and other chemicals (including industrial effluent), which have contaminated the groundwater sources.
However, the irony of the situation is that the Jamaican State is deemed to be a major contributor to the contamination of the environment. Indeed, in the context of the parishes of Kingston and St Andrew, the Soapberry Waste Water Treatment Plant is now just being commissioned into service putting to an end a period of years when there were no functional treatment plants. Even so, according to KSAC Mayor Senator Desmond McKenzie only 35% of residencies in the Corporate Area are attached to the sewer system with the majority in the foreseeable future continuing to rely on more traditional waste disposal mechanisms. In this regard, private contractors estimate that to facilitate connection of the residencies to the central sewer line will cost approximately J$250,000 per household which has proven to be somewhat of a deterrent. However, just being in relative close proximity to the sewer line (attached or not) in Seymour Lands and other areas increases the density from 30 to 50 habitable rooms per acre and attracts a 100% surcharge on water bills, whether or not there is a functional treatment plant and recently re-imposed a monthly cess known as the K-factor - which finances capital projects that would not generate a significant increase in revenue. Nevertheless, this has not impacted the continued flow of 20 million gallons of waste water and 1.5 million gallons of solid waste into the Kingston Harbour daily
Further, due to insufficient investment in the upgrading and maintenance of infrastructure there are problems relating to low pressure and insufficient flow largely attributable to an insufficiency in the size of the inflow pipes in Kingston and St Andrew. Indeed, given the age of the infrastructure it is believed that the water flow is also being compromised by the corrosion and calcification of pipes. This difficulty is more pronounced in the older parts of the island as well as newer developments, which have been constructed on the initial infrastructure works as obtains particularly in Seymour Lands one of the oldest residential districts in Jamaica but where density ratios have been increased by 66% in recent times. Water supplies to these communities are therefore unable to attain the minimum standard set by the Office of Utilities Regulation (O.U.R) of 20 psi.
However, according to Vernon Barrett, Vice-President of Corporate and Strategic Planning at the National Water Commission, the state owned utility has been constrained by capacity limitations arising from poor settlement planning. Further Mr. Barrett, reportedly advised The Gleaner that developers and settlers often fail to properly assess the feasibility of water supply before building houses. The NWC says it is aiming to extend its island-wide coverage over the next five to seven years to 85 per cent, up from its current service output of 71 per cent. This however is in stark contrast to the information provided by both the KSAC and the National Environment and Planning Agency, where both regulatory bodies advise that all new developments must first receive the approval of the NWC in terms of the availability of supply.
This has been of particular concern, as no new supplies have been brought into the Trafalgar Council Communities, despite a plethora of high density developments receiving state approvals over the past three (3) years. Further, according to data provided by the National Water Commission (NWC) and reported in the Economic and Social Survey (2008), water production for Kingston, St Andrew and St Thomas declined by 7.2 percent in 2006 and increased by a mere 2.7 percent in 2007. In the meantime, the number of connections in the above named parishes, increased by a whopping 14.9 percent in 2007 alone. This explains the low water pressure or in other cases the absence of water from the affected communities, a situation which worsens with the addition of each new development. Nevertheless, the approvals for new multi-storey high density developments in Seymour Lands and the residential sections of New Kingston continue unabated and also continue to receive the blessing of the NWC, according to the KSAC and NEPA.
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