Residents of Pear Tree Grove celebrate with high fives as Mayor of Spanish Town Andrew Wheatley turns on the pipe officially commissioning the Pear Tree Grove Minor Water Supply System in the rural St Catherine community recently. The system, one of several being rehabilitated in the hilly regions of the parish, will deliver potable piped water to several communities, ending a 10-year lack of access to the commodity.

The often used cliché, 'Water is Life', took on new meaning on May 14, when residents of Coco Walk, in Williamsfield, St Catherine, shouted for joy at the commissioning of piped water in the community, after 15 years without the precious commodity.

Only a few weeks before, another minor water supply scheme was commissioned into service in the hilly community of Pear Tree Grove, St Catherine. That community was without piped water for 10 years.

At the commissioning in Coco Walk, Mayor of Spanish Town Dr Andrew Wheatley, announced that several minor water supply systems in rural St Catherine are to be rehabilitated by the St Catherine Parish Council, as the council had secured more than $4 million from the European Union (EU), to help fund the programme.

He said the project resulted from the collaborative effort of the Social Development Commission (SDC), the Williamsfield Citizens' Association, the Environmental Foundation of Jamaica (EFJ) and through the Constituency Development Fund.

Residents to benefit

The system will serve residents of Coco Walk, Race Course and Harewood and part of the Troja/Mount Industry community.

More than 6,500 feet of two-inch galvanised pipes were laid in the community, the Williamsfield water-pumping station was rehabilitated, a new motor was installed, and a new steel tank constructed.

Paulette, a resident of Coco Walk, said she was grateful for the facility.

"We can wash, cook, use the bathroom and bathe. We are very grateful," she said.

Over in Pear Tree Grove, the reaction of the residents were similar. They said they were delighted to have running water in their homes.

"It will be good to have a shower like ordinary homeowners in urban communities," one resident said.

The Pear Tree Grove minor water supply system, now delivers potable water to some 400 households, with plans for an additional 300 when the system is further upgraded. That system originally served more than 200 households and was contracted by the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF) some 10 years ago at a cost of $6.2 million, with an additional $7 million injection in the following years.

Easy decision

Regional Director of the SDC in St Catherine, Edith Morrison, who addressed the residents of Coco Walk, said the decision taken by the commission to be a partner in the redevelopment of the water system was not difficult as, after an analysis was done, the need was clear.

"The joy of the community to finally have water running through their pipes, words cannot describe that. We work with everyone in the process of community development and community building, to make the community a better place and, as a regional director of the SDC, a community building organisation, I am extremely proud to take part," she said.

Project manager at the EFJ, Derrick Gayle, disclosed that the foundation pumped some $4.3 million into the project, and encouraged residents to take care of the system, "to use it wisely and make forward plans for its maintenance as the project spoke clearly to issues of sanitation, child survival and sustainable livelihoods."

"If something is happening, do something to fix the problem before it gets too big," he told the residents. "Don't let it go into disrepair, put something aside that you can repair the pump, or buy a new pump, because it's a very big investment," he added.

The mayor said the council must bear the cost of chlorinating the water to ensure that it is safe for consumption.

"We have to ensure that we pay our electricity bill that the pump can continue to work and that is why I am imploring residents to get connected to the system," he said, adding that the parish council is currently offering a reduction in connection fees, down to $2,000 from $3,000.

Advice to farmers

Residents, most of whom are engaged in farming, were encouraged not to use the potable water from the system to water their fields, or to sublet to other communities, as their needs would soon be addressed.

"We'll be doing some improvement work to the Latty Springs and Crown Ground water supply systems in the Troja area. We'll be going to Water Mount again, where we currently have a good system, to do some minor improvement works, to ensure that we continue to provide potable water to communities in the area," Wheatley said.

- JIS

'Is this really true', seems to be what residents of Coco Walk, Williamsfield, St Catherine, are wondering as they gaze in awe at the sight of piped potable water which they will now get in their homes. The Williamsfield minor water supply system was recently commissioned into service, effectively ending a 15-year absence of the commodity to their homes. - Contributed photos