Jamaicans are being warned that the protracted dry spell affecting the country is likely to worsen and as a result, National Water Commission (NWC) consumers will face more stringent supply restrictions.
On Wednesday, Water Minister, Robert Pickersgill, told the House of Representatives, that a prohibition notice on the use of water will be issued by this weekend.
“On the washing of vehicles, the watering of lawns and filling of swimming pools among other activities, persons may be taken before the resident magistrates court and may be directed to pay a fine”.
He also gave an update on the decline in inflows to the two major facilities serving the Corporate Area.
“Storage levels at the largest two reservoirs, the Hermitage Dam and the Mona Reservoir are 83% and 37% respectively and are falling daily. The Hermitage dam is heavily silted and only 30% of its design capacity is useable. Inflows from the Yallas River are now at 5.5 million gallons per day, down from its peak of 18 million gallons per day while the Hope River is at 2.6 from a high of 30-million gallons per.
Meanwhile, with the NWC reducing output, Pickersgill is promising that alternative measures will be in place for customers to receive water.
“We will be trucking water to the most affected areas through the Rapid Response Programme. As of tomorrow we will be making available two eight thousand gallon trucks to take water to persons in Clarendon. In South St. Elizabeth, in addition to the allocation of funds for the trucking of water we will also be dispatching three eight thousand gallon trucks for the trucking of water,” Pickersgill said.
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Increased water restrictions as dry spell continues
