Director of the Meteorological Service of Jamaica Evon Thompson says despite the forecast showing an increase in rainfall during the May/June period, the western section of the island will continue to experience drought conditions.

Thompson made the disclosure during a press conference on the water supply in Negril on Monday, April 22.

“We are seeing still that we will have some amount of drying at the beginning of the period but as we move into May and June, we do expect an increase in rainfall and there on this chart we see that the Western end of the island is likely to remain brown for a little bit longer than the rest of the country because of the climate patterns that are expected to be developing. We do expect that we will see the change occurring in Eastern parishes a bit before we start to see it in the west, hence Negril is at risk for continued dryness and you could experience a deepening of the drought conditions for the parishes of Hanover and Westmoreland which are the ones being under consideration today,” he said.

The island is currently experiencing a hydrological, meteorological and agricultural drought.

Acting President of the National Water Commission (NWC) Kevin Kerr says the commission is taking several long-term, medium-term and short-term measures to tackle the water deficit in Negril.

” We will conduct a rapid appraisal of the network, we will do active leak detection, and we will repair the leaks that we have found. We intend to regularize those customers who are not currently on board with us to partner with us so we can promote the conservation of unauthorised water. We will commence the procurement of eight new water trucks, we will continue to intensify our trucking in that space,” Kerr said as he outlined the short-term measures to be taken to address the water shortage in Negril.

He further noted that the NWC will commence decalcifying the Great River water intake pipeline.

“The simple term is washing sediments from the pipe and this activity will bring an additional one million gallons per day which we will dedicate solely for Hanover. This water will reach as far as Green Island, so we will minimise the need for Logwood [Water Treatment Plant] to go to that space, which means more water will be available to the communities of White Hall, Red Ground and the environs,” he added.

The medium-term measures include upgrading the transmission main between Martha Brae and Montego Bay and Lucea to Negril. The commission will also expand the capacity of the Martha Brae and Great River plants.

Among the long-term measures are the construction of a 10 MGD [million gallons per day] treatment plant at the Roaring River and the transmission main to Negril.

An islandwide non-revenue water reduction project will also be executed to the efficiencies of the NWC to minimise leaks.

Residents in western Jamaica are being urged to practice water conservation methods, store water and report leaks to the NWC.