Rocky Point residents complain of salty piped water

By Halshane Burke    

 

Several residents of Rocky Point in Clarendon are complaining that the water coming out of their pipes is extremely salty.

 

The residents say they have had this problem for several months.

 

One resident, Curtis Cole, said the appeal of the residents for the matter to be addressed has fallen on deaf ears. 

 

"The water that we have down here cannot drink, it just salt," he bemoaned. "We have to go different places up by the scheme to get some water that we can drink. The way how dis yah water yah salt, not even di soap powder cyah even sud out inna it. We continue a report it...but nothing done towards it; nobody do anything about it, nobody care," he lamented. 

 

Another resident, who identified himself as Vivian, said the problem arose after changes were made to the water source. 

 

"From them connect di two pipe pon one, dat deh water cyah drink none at all, whatsoever," he said, urging the National Water Commission (NWC) to reverse the connection. 

 

The NWC has said it is awaiting the acquisition of suitable land space to install a tank to fix the problem of salty water plaguing Rocky Point residents.

 

Ann Bolt, Acting Community Relations Manager for the Eastern Region of the National Water Commission, said the community is experiencing saltwater intrusion into the well because it lies below sea level.

 

Ms. Bolt said the plan is to take water from the New Town/Kemps Hill system to mix with the Rocky Settlement well, which should reduce the salt levels. 

 

"We have already acquired the tank. The only drawback right now is getting the land to house he tank. We are working with the municipal corporation for Clarendon to get that piece of land to do the next step of the project, which will be to house the tank and do the installation for the mixing of the old water supply system," she said.