Poor water supply jepordises NHT scheme in St Bess

A proposed National Housing Trust (NHT) development in Balaclava, St Elizabeth, could be in jeopardy due to the poor water supply in the area.

This, as the St. Elizabeth Parish Council, is insisting that if there is no improvement in the present delivery of water in the area the planned development for phase two of the Pheonix Park Development will not be approved.

Chairman of the Parish Council and Councillor for the Balaclava Division, Mayor Everton Fisher, disclosed that the present system of water delivery to the community is adequate to meet the needs of the residents.

Mayor Fisher pointed out that the situation is close to a crisis as residents living in high elevations now have to be travelling to standpipes in the community to access water.

The situation is further compounded by the NWC's inability to supply water to the area as they have no trucks.

The Council has also been barred from the NWC's loading bays because of outstanding arrears. 

According to Mayor Fisher, several representations to the NWC to take measures to correct the situation have not been successful.

He says the adequacy of the Union Pumping Station needs to be addressed as the population has more than tripled that of the 1970s when the station was constructed.