Drought forces NWC to adjust restrictions

The National Water Commission (NWC) said it has been forced to adjust its supply times to customers who are served by the Mona Treatment Plant, as a result of the worsening drought conditions and with source inflows in continuous decline.

Starting today, supply of the commodity will drop from 16 hours to 12. Some customers are likely to experience low pressures and or no water during the period of restriction, between 6 p.m. and 5 a.m.

In a press statement yesterday, the agency said that the current dry period is now spanning seven months, and although the NWC had taken early action to ensure water distribution is maintained at an optimum level, this was compounded with the arrival of COVID-19.

Adjustment is necessary

"This new adjustment is necessary in order to maintain supply as best as possible at an acceptable level while at the same time being mindful of the NWC's role in the fight against the spread of the COVID-19 virus," the agency said.

As at last Friday, the Mona Reservoir was at 38.2 per cent of its capacity.

The following areas served by Mona Treatment Plant will, as of today, be impacted by the adjusted distribution hours: sections of Mona Heights, Old Hope Road, Hope Road, Hope Flats, Lady Musgrave Road, sections of Harbour View, Cross Roads, Cassia Park Road, Mountain View Avenue, sections of Half-Way Tree, Waterloo Road, Ravina, Devon Square, Upper Maxfield Avenue, sections of New Kingston, Hagley Park Road, Beverly Hills and downtown Kingston.

In the meantime, the NWC is reporting that there will be no changes to the current regulations that are in effect for those areas served by the Constant Spring Treatment Plant. Customers will remain on 12-hour supply cycles.

Customers in the following areas will be served between the hours of 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily:

Constant Spring Road, Constant Spring Gardens, Constant Spring Grove, Central Avenue, Manor Park, Shortwood Road, White Hall Gardens, Red Hills Road, Queensborough, Queensbury, Hughenden, Havendale, Camperdown Terrace, Manning's Hill Road and roads leading off, Arlene Gardens, Roehampton, Meadowbrook, Valentine Gardens, Calabar Mews, Ziadie Gardens, State Gardens, Molynes Road- from Perkins Boulevard to intersection with Washington Boulevard) , sections of Patrick City, sections of Pembroke Hall, sections of Duhaney Park.

Additionally some areas will be served between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. daily. They are: Cassia Park, Hagley Park, Maxfied Avenue, Eastwood Park Gardens, Molynes Road - from Eastwood Park Road (Half-Way Tree) to Washington Boulevard, Hagley Park Road and roads leading off, sections of Waltham Park Road, and sections of downtown Kingston including Trench Town, Jones Town, Denham Town and Rose Town.

As of last Friday, the Hermitage Dam was at 31.5 per cent of its capacity.

"As the nation goes through this challenging period, the NWC is imploring everyone to adhere to the Prohibition Order and make conservation a habit instead of the exception, because of the current drought. We prefer our customers comply rather than be faced with the possibility of prosecution," the agency said.