Hermitage Dam, depleting rapidly now at 31.4% of capacity.

Durrant Pate/Contributor

Effective today, the National Water Commission (NWC) has tightened its water supply schedule for customers in sections of Kingston and St Andrew, as the severe drought conditions continue to affect its Constant Spring network, in particular.

The revised schedule. which will remain in place until further notice, will see water being supplied between 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. daily to Queensborough, Queensbury, Perkins Boulevard, Meadowbrook Estate, Pembroke Hall, Cassia Park, Waltham Park Road, Chisholm Avenue, and lower sections of Molynes Road. 

This is in addition to Half-Way-Tree Road, Maxfield Avenue, Moreton Park, Hagley Park Road, Richmond Park, Cockburn Gardens, Kencot, Whitfield Town, sections of Cross Roads, Maxfield Park, Lyndhurst Road, Duhaney Park, Waterhouse, Olympic Gardens, Penwood, Washington Gardens, Washington Boulevard and all off-roads.

Other affected communities

The schedule also applies to Norbrook, Cherry Gardens, Hill Road and Sunset Boulevard, as well as Oakridge, Lakehurst, Armour Heights, Rockhampton, Orange Grove, Long Lane, Belgrade Mews, Port View, Stillwell Road, and Grosvenor. 

Meanwhile, water will be supplied between 6:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. daily to sections of Red Hills Road, Woodhaven, Three Oaks, Green Dale, Hughenden, Maverley, Valentine Gardens, Sunrise Crescent, Three Views, Calabar Mews, Sullivan Avenue, Darlington, Swansea, Whitehall Avenue, Cadot Road and Leicester Avenue. 

The schedule also covers Dunrobin Avenue, Central Avenue, Dukaharan Avenue, Camperdown, West Avenue, Constant Spring Road, Grants Pen, Upper Waterloo Road, sections of Shortwood Road, Widcombe Avenue, Old Church Road, Dulwich and Oaklands.

Other areas receiving water during the 6:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. period are Rochester Avenue, Merrivale, Lounsbury Avenue, Mannings Hill Road, Sherlock, Havendale, Meadowbrook, Fairdene and Roehampton. 

In a statement yesterday, the NWC said the adjustment forms part of an enhanced drought-management strategy aimed at preserving available water resources.  

Noting that there continues to be declines in storage levels at the Hermitage Dam, which is currently at 31.4 per cent of capacity, the NWC acknowledges that some communities may experience challenges receiving water according to the schedule due to factors including location, terrain and elevation.

To assist affected customers, trucked water will be made available upon request. Customers requiring trucked water may contact the NWC Customer Care Centre toll-free at 888-225-5692. The NWC is urging customers to ensure they have adequate water storage to last through non-supply hours and to carefully manage their stored supplies. 

The utility company is also reminding customers that a prohibition notice is currently in effect and that they must desist from all non-essential water use, including washing vehicles, watering lawns and gardens, filling pools and pressure-washing driveways.

The NWC will continue to closely monitor dam levels, system performance and prevailing drought conditions and provide updates as necessary.