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I wasn't aware until I started reading some last night, but I guess there is a lack of water situation on the West End. We are travelling down in a couple of weeks and just wanting to know more about the situation. Can anyone provide a summary or links to some reading that can help me understand what is going on? Are the restaurants on the West End affected by this? (I assume they are.) Are the hotels affected? Are there water issues down on the beach?
Yes, you will have water.Quote:
Originally Posted by RyanP
A very quick summary comes from one of my best friends from here in Negril. Born and raised here she and her husband booked a room on the cliffs - I will let her explain it from there.
"Speaking from experience the hotels on the west end have water secured for guests. I booked in for 2 nights and there was water. Despite the water issue it does not affect the tourists as each hotel enterprise make sure the guests have water at all times and it's not evident to guests that there is a water issue."
The West End water issue effects mainly the residents and not the hotels or restaurants. The NWC (National Water Commission) says the problem is caused by a decrease in water supply. This is not a new problem and has been getting worse each year.
Six years ago the government stated that an increased water supply would be secured from Roaring River. Five and four years ago the Prime Minister stated the 33km of pipe was purchased and ready to be installed. This would greatly increase the supply, and had it been installed we wouldn't be having this conversation.
Just recently the PM has once again said that the issue would be addressed this fiscal year. Quoting the President of the Chamber of Commerce regarding future fixing of the West End Road from the Observer, "The infrastructure of everything in Negril, especially the West End, has been so very badly neglected over the years it makes you wonder if the people who govern ever really thought that the humans who lived there and paid taxes are deserving. I am so glad that now we are really being treated as human beings," the chamber president said.
Negril provided about US$1.3 Billion to the government coffers last year and many Negril citizens have no water. There have been a couple protests already, peaceful in nature and even having tourists join in. If you happen to hear about any protests in the future, you now know why they are happening.
For a little research background on the issue, this is from 2018:
https://jamaica.loopnews.com/content...supply-problem
From 2019
https://i.postimg.cc/g0NBfghm/Whats-...2-217268eb.jpg
And for a little comic relief from last year:
https://nationwideradiojm.com/ic-rep...d-water-bills/
Thanks, Rob! I had no idea.
This might be a stupid question Rob, but if you don't know the answer, there is no such thing a stupid questions, right.
100's of water trucks in Negril right now. Some nicer looking trucks, some look like they may have served in WWII. These trucks racing back a fourth because the more deliveries the more the money. It's just a matter of time before a tourist or visitor gets hit and killed by one racing down the road. Right now the trucks are lined up at Hedo where they must be getting a hundred deliveries a day. So here is my question. The drivers are getting the water from a source that I think is in the Morass. This isn't swamp water but water bubbling up through the limestone and rain runoff from the hills. Why can't NWC tap into that source, send it to Logwood where it would be treated and then piped to Negril?
The NWC could do that but the government is preventing it. There would have to be years of studies, reports, meetings, more studies, reports and meetings before money would be allocated. Then what they call the "Procurement Procedure" to take place, which essentially prevents the Ministries from allocating contracts to family and friends. This is why we are asking everyone to write to Minister Bartlett to get the already studied, planned and approved Roaring River 33km of pipe sitting in Little London installed now.Quote:
Originally Posted by brownsd54
And chances are the source in question is a NWC pipe. There are valves, spigots and supply sources all over Negril. The trucks find the most convenient one and fill'er up! Hydrants are used as well. Even the tanks on Tank Hill and Westland Mountain are being tapped.
And no government agency is doing anything about it. Meanwhile, the residents have no water in their pipes.
I wish TVJ would do some serious reporting on this. A few weeks ago I saw a video of water gushing from a hydrant on the beach road. After your statement, Rob, that trucks fill up from hydrants, it begs the question “was it the fault of the truck not closing it properly?”
NM,Quote:
Originally Posted by Nurse Marcia
Why close it at all? It's the Fire department's responsibility. If you are robbing a home, do you make sure all the locks are locked and windows closed after the robbery?
For sure, Rob!
I know very little about the "procurement procedure" other than the PM declaring an "emergence situation that requires a prompt repose" regarding the road and wall collapse by Sunshine plaza. He said the repairs still have to go through the procurement procedure. I'm not sure if I will see those repairs in my life time (and I plan on living for another 25 years).Quote:
Originally Posted by Rob
What about a "local state of emergency". Does Negril have any local government or Parish sympathy. Local SOE might get the word out internationally and that might prompt a response.
The seawall will probably be done within our lifetime. My guess is they will start it just before next winter's busy season. Somehow that always seems to happen.Quote:
Originally Posted by brownsd54
Our "local government" is Sav. Our mayor is the mayor of Sav. And the last thing you want is an SOE, it just slows everything down.
As AI tries to summarize Jamaica's unique procurement procedures, it says "These features contribute to a comprehensive and robust procurement system in Jamaica. They aim to ensure transparency, fairness, and efficiency in the procurement process."
Essentially it is a way that stops the "business as usual" in the past where family and friends "won" all the contracts. Now there are something like a dozen steps that have to satisfied before a contract is granted. It seems that whoever wrote the new procurement procedures left out anything having to do with emergencies. That is why we are suggesting that the JDF Engineers handle it, We would think there is an exception when the ones doing the work are in the military, We may be wrong but its worth a try!
If you want to get the word out internationally which is what we want to do, please read the other thread "We need your help" - it explains everything and even to contact anyone you know in the real media (not the social kind).
When I was saying an SOE might bring international attention, I wasn't referring to an SOE as we know them here in Jamaica where the police set up barricades and search peoples houses. What I was thinking was a "water crisis SOE".
Another noticeable tidbit. Sandals, Hedo, Couples Sweptaway, Azul, Beaches all have trucks delivering water 24-7. I have not passed Hedo once in the last 2 weeks when there wasn't a least 3 trucks parked out back delivering water. These resort owners are big big players. I don't know what a truck load of water is to be delivered but I thinking probably in the $10,000J per range, yet these resort owners are suspiciously quiet. Is it possibly NWC is paying not only for the water but for the delivery as well. If so why wouldn't they just use that money towards get the pipe laid at Roaring River?? And why wouldn't they pay for the delivery to the "little people".
There is no such animal as a "water crisis SOE". An SOE is an SOE. Completely useless for this cause.Quote:
Originally Posted by brownsd54
This info, along with answers and discussions about all your other comments are consistently addressed in the WhatsApp group I added you in. If you want to know the answers as well as inside runnings as to why they are what they are, I can re-add you.
Let me know!
Rob,
Just a question here. In the old days it was still common to see locals carrying water from a source to their residence. Though not an ideal source I would assume those were mainly natural springs but has anyone explored the option of private citizens hiring contractors to drill wells for community use? I'm assuming there'd be too much red tape involved in getting it done or people would have done it already.
Every possible option has, is, been and being explored. When you don't have water, things get critical real fast.
What has been the barrier to drilling wells then?Quote:
Originally Posted by Rob
People are collecting rainwater and those with natural springs use them also. But not for cooking. washing dishes, bathing or drinking purposes.Quote:
Originally Posted by Corey K
Forgetting about all the legality, permits and red tape involved in drilling new wells, let us look at the concept of a well source of water for the community vs. water delivery by truck.
First of all, with a well, you are replacing the gas power of a truck with the foot power of people. Whereas a truck can deliver hundreds of gallons of water to a residence, by foot you can carry two buckets of water.
Secondly, there is the issue of water quality. Well or spring water can look crystal clear yet contain microbes that can cause illnesses of all kinds. That is why the water from the pipe is treated by the NWC first. You are taking an unnecessary risk by using any source other than the NWC.
I used to take "showers" from a bucket that was from collected rain water back in the early 90's. I would set bottles with funnels out in the middle of the yard for driinking water. But this is 2024. There are water treatment plants and water pipes in place to get the safe, clean water to the people.
Negril raises 1/3 of the tourism dollars for Jamaica. We gave the government US$1.3 BILLION last year and we cannot get water in our pipes? We don't want to take a step back 30 years and use untreated water.
Rob,
This may be helpful:
Water Resources Assessment of Jamaica circa 2001:
http://large.stanford.edu/courses/20.../ace-feb01.pdf
Both Hanover and Westmorland parishes have water aquafers in the limestone deposits.
This study suggests hand pumps vs mechanical pumps.
Mechanical pumps would drain the aquafer too quickly.
NOTE: The repeated statements of water quality through out the report.
All of us are praying for a quick solution to the water crisis in Negril.
VVHT
Thanks man! I found an almost identical study from San Diego U. from 2015... I have sent that to "the powers that be"Quote:
Originally Posted by VVHT
Not very helpful but at least interesting. Since the 1920s, Curacao has been making its own water, all of its water, from seawater. Extremely energy intensive process but with their proximity to Venezuela, they've been able to tap into their oil supplies.
There are major advances in desalination, but one of the new concepts is a hybrid unit that uses solar power to create electricity AND water from humidity in the air. It is not ready for prime time, but as a dehumidifier produces water, this produces clean drinking water. And it provides excess electricity. A single unit could help provide water and electric for a household. MIT is rather advanced on the concept.
Yes, we have been researching everything.