NWC system failures affecting more than 40 corporate area communities

The National Water Commission (NWC) says large sections of the Corporate Area now have no water or intermittent periods of low water pressure because of a combination of issues that have worsened in recent days.

It says there is a major break on the Ferry/Mandela transmission pipeline in an area that is effectively inaccessible as it is under approximately 35 feet of dirt and road construction material.

The NWC says every effort is being made to fast-track the completion of a new replacement pipeline already being constructed as part of the road improvement project because all other options are not practical.

According to the Commission, it had considered constructing a temporary by-pass pipeline but this would require 1 mile of pipes, would be costly and could take months before completion.  

The NWC says in the interim, water from other systems such as the Rio Cobre/Tulloch Springs, Havendale, Forest Hills, Constant Spring,  Mona and Hope systems is being shared and re-directed to make up for the loss of the water from the Ferry System.

"This has deprived the Commission of about five million gallons of water per day," said an NWC spokesperson referring to the break in the Ferry/Mandela pipeline.

It has also disconnected a major source of supply to the following areas:

Cooreville Gardens
Duhaney Park
Washington Gardens
Patrick City
Ziadie Gardens
State Gardens
Molynes Gardens
Moreton Park
Olympic Way
New Haven
Coburn Gardens
Seaview Gardens
Washington Boulevard
Dunrobin Avenue​
Molynes Road

The NWC is also reporting that frequent breaks on the series of major pipelines along Constant Spring Road as a result of ongoing road construction.

It says this often forces the shut-down of the Constant Spring Water Treatment Plant several times each week.

The following areas are being affected:

Constant Spring Gardens
Norbrook
Cherry Gardens
Barbican
Manor Park
Shortwood
Eastwood Park Gardens
Molynes Road
Waltham Park Road
Olympic Way
Bay Farm Road
Hagley Park Road
Dunrobin Avenue
Calabar Mews
Ziadie Gardens
State Gardens
Mannings Hill Road
Red Hills Road
Constant Spring Road
Half Way Tree
Valentine Gardens
Meadowbrook
Queensborough
Roehampton ​

In the meantime, the NWC says frequent breaks on the Spanish Town Road major pipelines have been requiring shut-downs to effect repairs.

Areas impacted by this issue include:
Cooreville Gardens
Sections of Spanish Town Road and all roads leading off
Sections of Three Miles area
Downtown Kingston
Marcus Garvey Drive
Newport East and surrounding areas

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