Water supply disruption forces UWI Mona to suspend normal operations

By Nakinskie Robinson 

  

Water supply at the University of the West Indies, Mona has been disrupted, forcing the campus to suspend non essential operations.

 

Campus Registrar Dr. Donovan Stanberry told Radio Jamaica News that only emergency services and students who are doing exams are allowed on campus at this time.

 

He explained that the pump which distributes water to the institution was damaged on Tuesday evening.

 

"We generate our own water on campus. So something has gone wrong with the pumps, which is a normal occurrence with those kind of assets. So until we correct that problem, which we are working feverishly to do, we have to suspend normal operations. Happily teaching as now ended because it is now exam time, so it will not adversely affect many things," he explained. 

 

Dr. Stanberry said he expects that the issue will be resolved "within the week or so". But the university is also considering another option. 

 

"We are also exploring reconnecting even temporarily with the National Water Commission. Because remember there was a time when the National Water Commission used to supply us. So those pipes are still in the ground. If the NWA thing can work before we fix our own pumps, we can resume normal operation, perhaps as early as tomorrow," he said. 

 

Dr. Stanberry explained that interim measures have since been established for those who have exams as well as students living on halls of residence. 

 

"What we're doing is to ensure that all our exam centres are adequately supplied with whatever water or toilet facilities they need, so that we don't have to disrupt exams. We are doing a combination of trucking and renting of portable sanitary facilities to facilitate those are having exams. And of course, our priority in terms of the trucking would be for those residential students who live on the halls of residents," said the campus registrar.