Approximately 550 residents in the rural communities of Cascade and Section in Western Portland, now have a steady and reliable source of water, following the commissioning of the $40 millon Cascade/Section Water Supply Rehabilitation Project into service yesterday (August 20, 2025).

Speaking at the commissioning ceremony in Cascade,  Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Hon. Matthew Samuda, noted that the Government has prioritised investments in rural water systems, stating that there  has been “no segregation where only urban town centres receive water”.

Minister Samuda added that the island is blessed with rainfall, but this has become intermittent due to climate change.

“It means your water systems to store, extract, process and distribute water, and have to outpace the ravages of climate change.   So when your Government takes $40 million of taxpayer money and says it’s time for the people of Cascade to put water woes behind them, we hope you understand that priority was based on commitments made to you, but is also made on good, sound economic management and the fact that we decided that communities like Cascade can no longer continue without water”, the Minister stated.

Noting that there are 100 projects underway throughout Jamaica in both urban and rural areas, the Minister added that the provision of water is an “investment in the comfort, future and way of life” of the residents of these communities and is a commitment to the objectives of the Vision 2030 National Development Plan.

“Jamaica has made a commitment to itself that we will ensure that there is no community left behind by 2030.   It is within our Vision 2030 document, it is accepted within the UNSDGs (United Nations Sustainable Development Goals), but it is (also) a firm commitment of this Government.  That is why we are investing J$22 billion currently, to make our water systems resilient, to extend our water systems to those who are left out, and to ensure that we can manage the ravages of climate change  as best as possible”, the Minister stated.

The Cascade/Section Water Supply Rehabilitation project, which was executed by Rural Water Supply Limited (RWSL), seeks to mitigate the acute water shortages that both communities face during the dry season, due to inadequate storage facilities and deteriorated and undersized infrastructure.

Work on the project involved the installation of an upgraded 2-inch distribution pipeline to serve both communities as well as the installation of an elevated storage tank.