Residents of Sandside and Trinity Heights in St. Mary are expected to benefit from improved water delivery service following the commissioning of a 100,000 US-gallon storage tank.
The tank was installed at a cost of $22 million.
Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Senator the Hon. Matthew Samuda, commissioned the tank into service during a ceremony for the Sandside Storage Tank Replacement Project in Trinity yesterday (April 13, 2023).
“The Sandside storage tank replacement project in Trinity Heights represents a significant investment in reliable water supply which is the base of human dignity, it is the base of every economy and it is the base of comfort”, stated Minister Samuda.
The tank is one of the 33 water storage tanks that are being refurbished and re-commissioned under the programme, at a total cost of $600 million, and will serve a combined total of 120 accounts with a reach of over 500 persons.
The new Glass-Fused-To Steel Bolted Tank also known as Ramgolam replaces the old 20,000-capacity metal tank that deteriorated. The tank was supplied and installed by Florida Aquastore with the major inter-connection work being undertaken by a local contractor – Mustang Construction and Engineering.
Minister Samuda noted the significant work that was carried out by the NWC on both small and large water supply systems last year.
“Persons should know that last year, we deployed hundreds of projects that impacted 200-thousand Jamaicans positively with water. That was four (4) billion dollars of work. To give you the scale and idea of what we are trying to accomplish this year, I can tell you that we are going to deploy 7 billion dollars of water projects this year that will further benefit 150,000 Jamaicans, not least of all, the residents of St. Mary”, Minister Samuda disclosed.
He noted that some of the areas in St. Mary that have benefitted from water projects thus far, include Shot Pan Corner, Castleton, Islington, Marley, Barclay Town, Fellowship Hall, Macca Hill, White River, and Sandy Hill, and Hamilton Mountain.
Minister Samuda further disclosed that work is underway on the Jordan Wells system that services the Agualta Vale and Highgate areas.
The installation of this tank comes at a crucial time and will assist the NWC in providing significant improvement in water supply reliability and quality from the network.
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