$91.6m Bunkers Hill water project commissioned amid drought

Approximately 1,000 residents in Bunkers Hill, Mears, Broadleaf, and Nairne Castle in Northern Clarendon, Jamaica, will now benefit from improved access to clean water following the commissioning of the Bunkers Hill Water Supply Project. The $91.6 million initiative was implemented by Rural Water Supply Limited and handed over to the National Water Commission for operation.

The project's launch comes at a critical time as Jamaica grapples with persistent drought conditions. Minister of Water, Environment and Climate Change Matthew Samuda emphasized that while the Bunkers Hill project is a significant investment, it represents a fraction of the larger national effort required to build water resilience. He pointed to an aging water network, increasing demand, and the impacts of a changing climate as key challenges necessitating a faster pace of investment.

“

What we are doing here in Bunkers Hill is a demonstration of what is possible when we make the necessary investments, but it also reminds us of how much more work remains to be done. We have an ageing water network, increasing demand and a changing climate, so we have to significantly accelerate the pace of investment if we are going to build the resilient water system that Jamaica needs.

Samuda noted that the water challenges faced by Bunkers Hill residents have spanned decades, stemming from historically inadequate investment in water infrastructure. The newly commissioned system includes a 10,000-imperial-gallon elevated storage tank, the rehabilitation of an existing 5,000-gallon tank, and approximately 9.3 kilometers of new pipelines. Additionally, a solar-powered pumping system is incorporated to reduce operating costs and mitigate issues related to intermittent electricity supply.

Both Samuda and Member of Parliament for Clarendon Northern, Wavell Hinds, urged residents to register their water connections, pay their bills, and contribute to the system's sustainability. The Ministry of Water, Environment and Climate Change also reminded the public about the ongoing drought conditions impacting water resources across the country.

“

I too will encourage them to pay the bills because we have to contribute to ensure that the project will continue in a more sustainable way.