HOPE BAY/ST. MARGARET'S BAY WATER SUPPLY PROJECT COMMISSIONED

EU Ambassador, Mr. Marco Mazzocchi-Alamanni (left) and Minister Robert Pickersgill turn on the pipe signifying the commissioning of the Hope Bay/St. Margaret's Bay Water System. Looking on is State Minister for Water, Hon. Fenton Ferguson.

The Hope Bay/St. Margaret's Bay Water Supply Project in Portland was officially commissioned into service on Friday, July 29, 2007.

The Water Supply Project is one of a set of four projects that are now being funded jointly by the European Union (EU) and the Government of Jamaica (GOJ) and forms part of the Rural Water Supply Phase 11 Programme.

While the Project involved two distinct phases, each phase complements the other and was implemented at a total cost of $101M. Phase 1 and all material purchases was financed by the EU under its European Development Fund (EDF). Phase 11 was financed by GOJ. The Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ), GOJ and the National Water Commission (NWC) were the Contracting Authority. The NWC was the Project Supervisor and HP Gauff of Germany was the Project Consultant. The Project Contractor was M&M Jamaica Ltd.

Works on the Project involved:

• Reconstruction of the intake structures at Daniel River
• Construction of new clarifier and pressure filters
• Replacement of the water treatment plant
• Construction of a new 450m cubed reservoir
• Construction of a new transmission main from the treatment facilities to the coastal roadway
• Construction of new transmission and distribution mains towards Hope Bay and St. Margaret's Bay and replacement of all service connections along the new transmission and distribution mains
• Rehabilitation and replacement of the Whydah and Cooling Spring pumping stations
• Rehabilitation of the Cooling Spring elevated steel tank.

The System will provide adequate water to some 5,000 persons including small businesses and schools in areas such as Baker Avenue, Baker Hill, Caenwood Road, New Road, Moonlight, Hope Bay and St. Margaret's Bay.

Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, Minister Pickersgill admonished the residents, " we urge you to get connected, stay connected, protect your water supply system and derive the maximum benefits afforded to you by this timely improvement project."

For his part, EU Ambassador Marco Mazzochi-Alemanni noted that since 1976, the EU had provided $5.5B in grants for water schemes in Jamaica. He however highlighted the fact that grants would soon become a thing of the past as fewer funds were being set aside for capital spending.

Also in attendance at the ceremony were, State Minister responsible for Water, Hon. Fenton Ferguson, CTD in the Ministry, Mr. Desmond Munroe, Mr. Charles Buchanan, Corporate Communications Manager at the NWC as well as other officials from the EU, MHTWW and NWC.