Tyrone Reid, Staff Reporter
THE NATIONAL Water Commission (NWC) has conceded to claims made by the Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR) that several of its sewerage systems have perennially failed to meet stipulated standards set by National Environment and Planning Agency.
The disclosure was made by J. Paul Morgan, director general of the OUR, in its annual report and financial statements for 2004/2005.
"This has been a long-standing problem and the office had instructed the NWC in December 2003 to make the necessary investments to rehabilitate the Harbour View treatment plant as part of a programme of corrective measures," read the section of the report addressing the water and sewerage sector.
WORKING ON PROBLEMS
When contacted, Charles Buchanan, corporate public relations manager at the NWC, did not attempt to skirt the issue.
Mr. Buchanan confessed that there are several NWC sewerage systems that are not making the grade.
"The problems we have are significant and important and we are working on them," he told The Gleaner yesterday.
However, Mr. Buchanan lamented that the NWC is strapped for cash and could not undertake the upgrade.
"While it is clear that a number of important steps are needed, the cost to undertake these steps is a significant constraint," explained Mr. Buchanan.
He said this is compounded by the difficulties the NWC faces in collecting its revenue.
NOT NEW STANDARD
While not able to say how many of the NWC's 68 waste water systems are operating below board, Mr. Buchanan revealed that the two largest treatment plants in the Kingston Metropolitan Area (KMA), Greenwich and Western treatment plants in downtown Kingston, were on the list of under-performing sewerage systems.
"Based on their age, design and type, they are not meeting the new standards," he said.
While the OUR finds no fault with the systems that treat sewage in major coastal areas such as Ocho Rios, Montego Bay and Negril, it is the KMA and other areas provided with the service that receive the proverbial bitter end of the stick.
Mr. Buchanan added that the commission has spent millions on its sewerage systems and is poised to spend millions more.
