The Editor, Sir:

I would like to ask the National Water Commission and the National Environment and Planning Agency whether the sewage treatment plant beside the Spanish Town bypass will ever be repaired. Years ago, the bridge failed and was repaired, and the fourth pond failed and collapsed into the Rio Cobre and has not been repaired.

We saw and noted these events, but in between, and particularly recently, there has been absolutely no maintenance, leading to the first pond being choked with floating vegetation, the second and third pond drying out (the fourth is still collapsed) and the chlorine contact chamber has never ever seen water.

Facultative pond systems are wonderful natural systems that do not need pumps and machinery, but they do need a little maintenance.

If a private plant were to be in this state, they would be long ago paying fines and the owner threatened with dire action, so what is the position with these government bodies? We cannot ask the residents of De la Vega to stop producing waste water.

Meanwhile, I hope the public realises that the raw sewage running into Hunts Bay is not making their shrimp, fish or swimming any healthier.

Somebody, please do your job!

I am, etc.,

STEPHEN HODGES

carphen@cwjamaica.com

P.O. Box 597

Kingston 10

Via Go-Jamaica