After targeting approximately 22,000 accounts for disconnection, for around $2.3 billion in unpaid bills, the National Water Commission (NWC) has revealed it only managed to disconnect 17,862 customers and collect $500 million from delinquents between January and April this year.

NWC President Mark Barnett, addressing the utility company’s quarterly press briefing held yesterday (May 20), said of the disconnected accounts, which amounted $1.93 billion in monies owed, fewer than 10,000 have been reconnected after settling bills.

Noting that billions remain owed to the company, and that the funds are needed to upgrade its infrastructure, bring water to more Jamaicans and fix leaks, Barnett once again urged delinquent customers to settle their outstanding water bills to avoid disconnection.

“That is not sufficient to undertake all that we have to do as a utility,” Barnett said of the dismal collections, while noting that the disconnection drive would continue.

He noted that in addition to infrastructure upgrade and addressing leaks, the NWC has to pay the National Works Agency to repair roads after laying and fixing pipelines, and a huge sum also goes to the Jamaica Public Service as electricity is required to pump the water to customers.

Barnett said that, while customers sometimes get upset when their water supply is disconnected, “the fact is, you ought not forget to pay your water bill. It is the only commodity you can’t live without”.

In the same breath, Barnett said the NWC recently sent out 163 demand letters urging delinquent customers to settle their debts.

“It simply means that those customers who would have received those letters, our next step is heading to the courts,” he said.

“So we would rather collect. We would rather, even when you get these letters, you contact us, make arrangements, pay up, rather than head to the courts because where we may head next is forfeiture of your property.”

The disconnection drive and the NWC’s decision to send demand letters to some customers come after the commission provided assistance through the NWC CAP (COVID-19 Assistance Programme).

However, Barnett said: “There is no initiative coming that is going to give any concession to customers on any wide-scale way.”

Instead, he said the NWC would be working to collect outstanding sums.

“While it may be construed that NWC may have not been very serious about collecting its revenue, we are now taking the necessary steps to ensure that customers take us seriously. It is a work in progress, but the team is committed to making this happen,” Barnett said.