Rainwater Harvesting (RWH) Planning Guideline
A key objective of the National Water Sector Policy and Implementation Plan (NWSP), 2019 is to encourage rainwater harvesting both as a primary source of access, and as a drought management mechanism. Rainwater harvesting is a technique of collection and storage of rainwater into natural reservoirs or tanks, or the infiltration of surface water into subsurface aquifers.
The Rainwater Harvesting Planning Guidelines, for the harvesting of rainwater from the roof of residential, commercial, institutional, industrial and office buildings for potable and non-potable uses was approved by the Cabinet in October 2023, and laid in the Houses of Parliament in the same month.
Also, the Ministry through the Rural Water Supply Limited (RWSL) continues to implement rainwater harvesting (RWH) systems in schools, and other facilities islandwide.
Government of Jamaica – National Drought Mitigation Programme (NDMP)
The Government of Jamaica (GOJ) is committed to providing potable water for its citizens and is aware that drought condition makes it challenging for some persons to conduct their daily activities. As such, it has undertaken a programme to distribute polyethylene water tanks to persons that are deemed in need, to build the resilience of the country.
In November 2023, the GOJ commenced the pilot phase of the NDMP, which entailed the distribution and installation of three thousand (3000) four hundred (400) gallon polyethylene water tanks to beneficiaries, in fourteen (14) constituencies across six (6) parishes that are severely affected by drought conditions. The tanks will also be converted to rainwater harvesting systems. The tanks were funded by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) Adaptation Programme and Finance Mechanism (APFM) for the Pilot Programme and Climate Resilience (PPCR) in the amount of approximately Fifty-Nine Million Jamaican Dollars (J$59M) and the implementation of the rainwater harvesting systems is being funded by the GOJ.
The programme is being implemented by the Rural Water Supply Limited (RWSL) on behalf of the GOJ. The progress of works at the end of July 2024, included the delivery of one thousand one hundred and thirty-three (1,133) tanks to beneficiaries, and the procurement of Quick Response (QR) codes for placement on the tanks. The construction of rainwater harvesting systems is in progress in five (5) constituencies.
Figure 1: Highlights a completed system in the constituency of St. Thomas Western.
For Financial Year 2024/2025, the GOJ will be undertaking the distribution of 10000 polyethylene water tanks under the NDPM. The Invitations to Tender for the tanks was advertised in late July 2024.
Rural Water Supply Limited (RWSL)
The RWSL is an engineering company that has been given the mandate by the Government of Jamaica to primarily design, plan and implement potable water infrastructures for rural communities islandwide, using various modalities
One major project being undertaken by the RWSL, is the Free Hill Water Supply Rehabilitation Project in Free Hill, St. Ann. The community of Free Hill is located in the hills of St. Ann Northwestern, in the Bamboo electoral division. The area is inhabited by approximately 1500 persons who are mainly engaged in subsistence farming. Water infrastructure was previously in place in the community; however, the community has not been supplied with piped water for decades. Consequently, the water infrastructure is now in a dilapidated state and needs to be replaced.
The works that are being undertaken include, the upgrade of existing intake system, supply and installation of a solar photovoltaic pumping system, and the installation of transmission and distribution pipelines. The project commenced in April 2023 and is expected to be completed in two (2) years. The estimated cost of the project is J$118M. Approximately one thousand, five hundred residents (1,500) will be beneficiaries of this system.
Figure 3-6: Highlights work that is being undertaken on the project.
National Water Commission (NWC)
The National Water Commission (NWC) is Jamaica’s premier water service provider, charged with the responsibility of satisfying the island’s most critical water supply and wastewater service needs, impacting on all aspects of daily life and economic activity.
Several critical infrastructure projects are being undertaken by the NWC, which upon completion will improve water supply services and sanitation and increase the country’s resilience to climate change. These projects include:
i. Greater Mandeville Water Supply Project
The project is a major subcomponent of the NWC’s islandwide water supply programme and is aimed at effecting substantial improvements to the service levels in communities extending from Pepper in St. Elizabeth to the full limits of the town of Mandeville. The project is being implemented over five (5) years, from 2020 to 2025, via approximately thirty-two (32) contracts for groundwater source development, new and replacement transmission mains, electro-mechanical pumping equipment and associated storage reservoirs. Several contracts to effect interim improvements have already been completed. The estimated cost of the project is J$3B. Work is ongoing with the installation of pipelines and related appurtenances. Upon completion, the benefits of the project will include improved water supply services, facilitation of residential and commercial development, and increased operational efficiency.
ii. Replacement of Aged Transmission Mains Across Several Service Areas
The programme began in 2020 and is expected to continue to 2027. The project involves the replacement of aged transmission mains across several service areas. Residents and businesses in the service areas will benefit from improved water supply services. The Spanish Town Road Transmission Main Replacement was completed in June 2022 at a cost of J$3.4B. As of June 2024, the Port Royal Transmission was 98% completed, and is expected to cost approximately J$500M. Additionally, work is ongoing on the Roaring River to Runaway Bay Transmission Main, Phase 1.
iii. Construction of the Rio Cobre Content Water Treatment Plant
The ground-breaking ceremony for this project was held in March 2024. The project will constitute a 2-year period to build the plant, and a further 23-year arrangement under a Water Purchase Agreement between the National Water Commission and a Special Purpose Vehicle. This agreement is to design, build, finance, operate, maintain and transfer a fifteen (15M) Imperial Gallons of water per day (MiGD), to aid in the supply of water from the Rio Cobre, and is being done under a Public Private Partnership arrangement. The project is estimated to cost J$12B, and on completion will benefit approximately six hundred thousand (600,000) residents and business in Spanish Town, Old Harbour Road, Portmore and the Kingston and St. Andrew (KSA) Metropolitan area.
iv. Improvements in Sanitation
The NWC is currently rehabilitating and upgrading wastewater treatment plants in urban and rural areas, at a cost of approximately J$581M. Work has been substantially completed on the Eltham Park, Horizon Park and Greater Portmore wastewater treatment plants. Additionally, under the St. Andrew Sewer Expansion Programme, which is expected to cost approximately J$691M, several projects have been completed in areas such as Mona Heights, Bay Farm Road and Kencot. The benefits of these projects include a cleaner environment to foster water availability, safer disposal of sewage from individual premises, and the mitigation of public health challenges.
Water Resources Authority (WRA)
The WRA is legally mandated to “regulate, allocate, conserve and otherwise manage the water resources of Jamaica”. This will spur growth and social transformation through the sustainable utilization of water resources as a driver of national development.
National Water Resources Master Plan for Jamaica
The Master Plan was approved by Cabinet in October 2023 and tabled in the Houses of Parliament by Affirmative Resolution in the same month. This updated document is now available as a consultative tool that is a resource for policy makers, water managers, abstractors and other stakeholders. The document includes improved estimates of water resources with the additional years of hydrological data, as well as the impacts of climate change on projected water demands to an event horizon of 2080.
Stream/Aquifer Vulnerability Study
Use of dye tracing to determine the nature of hydrological features in selected Watershed Management Units. Dye tracing activities are performed in karstic settings to qualitatively identify the flow pathways of sinking streams to rising streams as well as to check hypothesized links between rivers and springs.
• Attention is being paid to areas within, as well as on the outskirts of, the Cockpit Country Protected Area.
• Activities continue with the tracing of the sources of the White River – St. Mary / St. Ann.
Rio Bueno sub-Watershed Management Unit (WMU) Isotope Hydrology Assessment
The WRA has partnered with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to use Isotope Hydrology to characterize the flow dynamics of the Rio Bueno sub-WMU. The project aims to identity the flow contributions of sinking rivers, rising rivers, rising springs and groundwater in the basin so as to confirm and identify the various contributions of rainfall and other flow dynamics in the basin and better protect the source water quality, building upon the dye tracing work previously done in the sub-WMU.
i. This will guide decisions regarding the usage of water and other natural resources from these very important watersheds, while being aware of water balance and preservation of water quality. Note that major town centres on the fringe of these watersheds are Runaway Bay, Discovery Bay and St Ann’s Bay.
ii. Water Sampling activities have been completed in December and samples are presently being analysed.
Managed Artificial Recharge (MAR) Facility – Innswood, St Catherine
The objective of the MAR project is to monitor the hydrological aspects of the Managed Artificial Recharge facility and any trends in groundwater characteristics for the catchment. The WRA has commenced a preliminary assessment of the Innswood Limestone Aquifer. Monitoring wells have been identified and baseline data are being gathered.
Yallahs Alluvium Aquifer Modelling
A previous study (2006) indicated that this aquifer was over- allocated. With larger datasets and improved modelling software, the assessment on the aquifer will determine current water balance and availability of water. Present indication is that the aquifer is severely stressed. A possible outcome is the establishment of a moratorium on any new abstractions. The WRA has commenced a preliminary assessment of current water quality in the region to help to protect the aquifers, and to develop proposals to potentially reverse any observed saline intrusion in these areas.
Central Wastewater Treatment Company Limited (CWTC)
The CWTC is a subsidiary of the NWC, and is owned jointly with Ashtrom Building Systems. Together they own 85.2% and 14.8% respectively. The Soapberry Wastewater Treatment Plant and its satellite transfer stations collects and processes sewage and septage from the Kingston Metropolitan Area (KMA), parts of Portmore, and Caymanas. This amounts to an inflow of over 65,000 cubic meters or more than 17 million gallons of sewage per day. The Soapberry facility is essential to the expansion and growth of the KMA through the various construction projects being undertaken.
The many recent developments in and around the corporate area would not have been possible without the centralized sewage treatment system that is provided by the Soapberry Wastewater Treatment Plant that facilitates the physical growth in our society and economy, while maintaining a sustainable environment.
CWTC undertook several projects during the fiscal year 2023-2024. These include the construction of the fencing for the perimeter of the Soapberry Wastewater Treatment Plant facility, the fixtures and installation of lighting on the property, sanitation works of cleaning sites and gully.