Some 9,000 residents of 15 communities in Eastern Hanover are soon to benefit from more reliable supply of potable water.
The Government of Jamaica, through the National Water Commission (NWC), is undertaking a $225 million project for the construction of the Cascade/Claremont/Jericho supply system, which will ensure ample supply to residents of the hilly districts, which are currently served by an inadequate and intermittent scheme.
It is to be completed over 13 months and the major components include:
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Interconnection into the existing Great River to Lucea water supply at Paradise
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Construction of new re-lift station at Paradise and Retrieve with 30,000-gallon storage tanks
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Installation of 2.2 kilometres of pipeline from Paradise to German Hill
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Construction of a 100,000-gallon tank at German Hill
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Installation of transmission pipelines between German Hill and Retrieve, Retrieve and Cascade, and another connecting Claremont and Retrieve
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Installation of 18 kilometres of distribution pipelines to serve the various districts
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Installation of a 250,000-gallon storage tank at Cascade; and as well as related civil works
Minister of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change, Hon. Robert Pickersgill, on Friday (February 1), signed a $20.3 million contract with Share Con Limited for the pipe laying component of the project.
At the signing ceremony held at his Dominica Drive office in New Kingston, Minister Pickersgill informed that the contract will provide for the complete construction, testing, flushing, sterilisation and commissioning into service of approximately 2,850 metres of transmission pipeline from the Great River to the Lucea bulk transmission mains in the vicinity of Paradise.
Mr. Pickersgill said the pipes will be laid along the old parochial road from German Hill and will include the installation of equipment in line with the specifications and conditions of the contract. This is expected to be completed in 20 weeks or approximately six months, and some 50 to 100 persons will be employed over the contract period.
Chairman of the NWC, Dr. Leary Myers, informed that the Cascade project is part of a $200 billion capital investment programme aimed at improving the supply of potable water to Jamaicans, in particular, residents of rural communities and small townships.
“This will undoubtedly have a positive impact on the quality of life of the residents. Hanover is one of the parishes now severely affected by drought. Now, 15 communities will benefit from this long-awaited improvement project,” he stated.
Member of Parliament for Eastern Hanover, D.K. Duncan, said he was pleased that the contract had been signed for the works to begin.
“We are very grateful and I know the citizens will be very happy now,” he said.
Director at Share Con Limited, Dialo Sterling, said the company was glad to be associated with the project, and would endeavour to complete the works on time and within budget.
The Rural Water Supply Limited, an agency of the Ministry, is partnering with the NWC as the supervising consultant on the project.