Prime Minister Holness Announces New Water Source to Serve Springfield Communities in St. Mary
Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness has announced the discovery and development of a new water source in Springfield, Western St. Mary. The water source will significantly improve the reliability and quality of potable water for residents in the surrounding communities.
Speaking on Tuesday (June 17) on a visit to the community Prime Minister Holness noted that Rural Water Supply Limited is implementing the initiative with support from the National Water Commission (NWC). It will aim to address long-standing issues with water access in the areas.
The Prime Minister stated “Today, I’m here to announce that we have found a new source of water to replace the old source and Rural Water [Supply Limited] has taken over the project to develop the project. They have come, they have done their tests, they are satisfied with the quality of the water and the consistent supply of the water.”
The Falling Springs Water Supply Project will extract and treat water from the newly verified spring source and deliver it to the community using a modern solar-powered pumping system. The water will be stored in a concrete reservoir and distributed via gravity feed into the NWC’s existing pipeline network. This improvement will ensure that communities that previously received water only once per week, or not at all, will now benefit from a consistent and safe water supply.
“Just under $50 million will be invested right here in the extraction of the water, in the pipeline, the lift station which will house the solar pump and the storage tank for the water. But that investment will help to improve the quality of life of the people in this community. And I’m very happy that I’m able to not just announce that we plan to, but to advise you that the work has already begun,” said Prime Minister Holness
This project is part of the government’s broader commitment to modernizing rural infrastructure, ensuring that all Jamaicans, regardless of location, have access to basic utilities.
“Being rural doesn’t mean that you should not have the conveniences of life and the conveniences of urban living… everybody should have potable water in your homes,” said Prime Minister Holness.
The Falling Springs development includes the installation of 1,000 meters of transmission pipeline, a solar pumping station, and a water treatment system to ensure quality and safety. Procurement is already underway, with major construction activities expected to commence by mid-year.