No drought convo in 2027 NWC chairman upbeat about water projects

Jamaicans may have to regulate their water use for now, but National Water Commission (NWC) Chairman Michael Shaw is promising that major projects in the pipeline will help the country’s recurring water woes.

“Next year, this time, we will not be having a conversation about drought,” Shaw told THE STAR, pointing to plans to move water from the Rio Cobre into Kingston and another major project aimed at improving supply along the western corridor towards Negril.

“You may quote me, we won’t be having these challenges next year this time,” he asserted. His comments come as Jamaica battles another period of severe drought, with rivers drying up and water restrictions already affecting several communities.

Restrictions for customers served by the Mona Dam began on August 3, with areas including Liguanea, Mountain View, sections of New Kingston, Cross Roads and Vineyard Town placed on a scheduled supply of about 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.

“Our dams are at record low, this is the hottest and driest it has been and I know people also realise that,” he said. Shaw said Jamaicans therefore must play their part while the country waits on the rains and the completion of the planned infrastructure.

“Where they had to put some regulations around it, I’m trying to make people use the water only for those critical and essential uses – not the watering of the garden, nor the washing of the car at this time,” he said.

Shaw said the NWC remains hopeful that rainfall will return in September, but warned that Jamaicans cannot continue depending on rainfall to solve the country’s water problems every year.

“We are very optimistic, based on what we got from the climate department, that we should start to see the rains coming in early to mid September,” he said. “So we’re almost praying for that.”

“But I don’t want to lose sight of that. Next year we don’t want to have to do the rain dance or to pray for rain.”

Jamaica’s struggle with water shortages during dry periods is nothing new. The NWC identifies July and August as one of the island’s two dry seasons, with the other running from December to April. Shaw opined that the cycle can now be broken through investment.

“Fortunately for us, and I mean that in the past, I don’t think the level of investment was made in the water. Now we have a new minister, who is so energised about doing new and exciting and old things in water,” he said.

Shaw was referring to Water, Environment and Climate Change Minister Matthew Samuda, whose ministry has been overseeing the Government’s response to the worsening drought. In addition to the Rio Cobre project, Shaw noted other initiatives.

“We’re also doing something on the western belt. We’re going to be moving water from Maggotty all the way along that corridor to Negril, solving that issue as well,” Shaw said. He noted that the NWC is also fixing some old pipes, as leaks are stopping the water from getting to consumers.

With the heat continuing and rainfall remaining uncertain, Shaw is asking Jamaicans to conserve now while the NWC works on longer-term solutions.

“If everyone [doesn’t] take action, next year we’ll have the same conversation,” he warned.