Gareth Manning, Sunday Gleaner Reporter

The National Water Commission (NWC) has revealed that it cannot deliver potable water to the entire Jamaican population.

Vernon Barrett, vice-president of corporate and strategic planning at the government-owned utility, tells The Sunday Gleaner that it was constrained by capacity limitations arising from poor settlement planning.

Barrett says some communities were too remotely situated across the country for the commission to reach, adding that developers and settlers often fail to properly assess the feasibility of water supply before building houses.

"NWC cannot provide service to 100 per cent of the population ... . What you have to ensure is that people will not have to walk long distances to get water, but they must be able to access it at a reasonable distance from their home and in some areas. Trucking will continue to be a need," Barrett says.

Average $200 more

His disclosure comes after the NWC last week announced a 23 per cent hike in water-consumption rates, plus an additional five per cent increase for the reintroduced K-Factor programme. This means an additional $200 for the average householder. The K-Factor finances capital projects that would not generate a significant increase in revenue, the NWC states.

Barrett notes that the responsibility of reaching remote communities rests with the Rural Water Supply Company.

Difficult venture

The country's primary water provider also argues that the terrain of the island makes it technically difficult and expensive to supply water to all communities.

"Universal access to water is not the same as 100 per cent pipes supplied to your house. It happens nowhere in the world," chimes in Charles Buchanan, corporate communications manager at the NWC.

While cautious not to put a dollar figure on expansion, the NWC says it is aiming to extend its islandwide coverage over the next five to seven years to 85 per cent, up from its current service output of 71 per cent. The NWC provides water to 95 per cent of the Corporate Area, in stark contrast to its coverage of other towns and rural Jamaica, which stands at 45 per cent.

"In the United States, only 85 per cent of their population get served from a municipal water-supply provider, so our reaching 85 per cent with NWC service, plus minimal service providers (is commendable)," Buchanan states.

gareth.manning@gleanerjm.com