30 more schools in Jamaica to get Rainwater harvesting systems

Monday, 21st October 2019

Jamaica is going to install rainwater harvesting systems at 30 additional schools. These systems would be installed by Rural Water Supply Limited (RWSL) over coming months. The agency recently commissioned into service systems installed at Rock Hall All Age School in St Andrew, and Enid Bennett High School in St Catherine, with another 30 set for completion by the end of the 2019/20 fiscal year. RWSL Managing Director, Audley Thompson, said that the agency's increased budget is enabling it to install systems at more educational institutions and communities. Thompson indicated that RWSL had discussions with the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information, and obtained a list of 182 primary schools which also require improved water supply, adding that funding is being sought to install systems at those institutions. The managing director was speaking at the recent commissioning of the $7 million rainwater harvesting system installed at Enid Bennett High School. Meanwhile, Thompson said the RWSL will be installing 26 minor water supply systems, which will afford improved access to the amenity for some 65, 000 residents islandwide. He said that these will be established in several communities, including Hamwalk, Redwood, Lucky Valley, Sligoville, and Watermount. “We intend, also, to complete 23 catchment tanks [which] will benefit approximately 6,000 residents. We will continue to earnestly fulfil the mandate which we have been charged with by the Government and people of Jamaica,” Thompson stated. He indicated that RWSL recently provided water solutions to the Garden Hill Primary School, in St Catherine, where the institution is being utilised to supply the community storage tank with pipelines installed to facilitate distribution. Additionally, rainwater harvesting systems, storage facilities, and a number of 400-gallon black tanks were also provided for residents of Giblatore in the parish, with funding from the Inter-American Development Bank. The RWSL is an agency of the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, with a mission to design, plan, and implement potable water infrastructures.

JIS