Floodwaters rising in Content, Manchester

 

The Water Resources Authority (WRA) has confirmed that the water level in Content, Williamsfield, Manchester continues to rise following heavy rainfall before and during the passage of Hurricane Melissa.

 

On Thursday last week, WRA Managing Director Peter Clarke said that the reading at the time showed a decrease in the water level.

 

Residents told Radio Jamaica News on Saturday that the situation was getting worse.

 

Speaking with the Radio Jamaica News on Monday morning, Mr. Clarke said the latest reading has indicated a rise in excess of seven feet since monitoring began last week Monday.

 

"Our teams have been out there. We've been doing a continuous monitoring of it, and between last week Monday and now Monday, roughly seven to eight days, the water has risen in excess of seven feet. At this stage, it also continues to rise. So it's roughly a foot per day over the last seven days," he explained.

 

The WRA reiterated that there is little that can be done to reduce the current water levels, as the process is naturally occurring and depends on the aquifer draining over time. 

 

"I'm aware that I think some local residents in the area opened up a small drain to help to drain off some water that's going away. But in terms of flooding, I mean, to handle flooding, to mitigate flooding and so on, I think that probably the NWA would need to come in and take a look at that. As you can understand, the Water Resources Authority, basically we're scientists, so what we're dealing with is the rise or the rate of rise of flooding, for instance, and how the rest of... water around will respond to that. So for sure, Content is an area that is of major concern and we are monitoring it on a daily basis," he acknowledged. 

 

Several homes have been covered by the flood waters and the road remains impassable.