Jamaica breaks ground on $148 million water mains replacement project

Jamaica's National Water Commission (NWC) has officially begun a $148 million project to replace aging water mains in Santa Cruz, St. Elizabeth. The initiative marks a significant step in the broader Santa Cruz Water Supply Improvement Programme.

The project involves replacing a three-inch cast iron pipeline, installed over fifty years ago, with a modern six-inch ductile iron pipeline. This upgrade is expected to significantly enhance water flow consistency, system integrity, and water pressure for approximately 1,200 customers across the Santa Cruz By-pass and surrounding communities. Minister of Water, Environment and Climate Change, Matthew Samuda, attended the groundbreaking ceremony, emphasizing the critical need for the upgrade.

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The Santa Cruz pipes, laid in the 1970s, are simply past their useful life. Today is a major milestone for a project that matters to the future of Santa Cruz. We are investing just under $150 million in your water supply, and I want to assure you that the contractors will ensure you have a Merry Christmas in this area once the project is completed.

"The Santa Cruz pipes, laid in the 1970s, are simply past their useful life," Samuda stated. "Today is a major milestone for a project that matters to the future of Santa Cruz. We are investing just under $150 million in your water supply."

NWC Project Engineer Neville Green explained that the new pipeline will allow for increased system pressure and optimized distribution, reducing recurring bursts and minimizing water losses. The NWC also committed to repaving affected roadway sections after construction is completed. Minister Samuda also addressed recent discussions about the NWC's capital budget, noting that 94 percent was spent last fiscal year and that management recommendations are being implemented.

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installing the durable six-inch ductile iron pipeline will allow us to safely increase system pressure and optimise distribution without recurring bursts. This upgrade will drastically reduce Non-Revenue Water losses, ensuring that the water treated by NWC reaches consumers’ taps rather than leaking into the ground.