As Hurricane Melissa continues to influence weather conditions across Jamaica, the National Water Commission (NWC) wishes to inform the public that its major water supply systems remain operational and continue to serve customers islandwide.

The Commission’s teams have been actively monitoring operations since the onset of adverse weather associated with the system and have implemented several measures to maintain service continuity for as long as conditions allow. Despite heavy rains in some areas, most of the NWC’s systems remain active. Some of the major facilities in question include Mona Water Treatment Plant and Constant Spring Water Treatment Plant in St Andrew, Logwood Water Treatment Plant in Hanover, Great River Water Treatment Plant in St James, Martha Brae Water Treatment Plant in Trelawny and the Greater Mandeville system in Central Jamaica.

However, the NWC notes that high turbidity, which is caused by increased runoff and sediment entering rivers and surface water sources, has begun to affect some of its facilities in parishes such as Manchester, Portland, Trelawny, St Mary, Clarendon, St James, Westmoreland and Kingston and St Andrew. As a result, some of our customers have been without their usual supply.

The operations teams are closely monitoring water quality, and the systems will be returned to full operation when turbidity levels have subsided to safe and acceptable standards.

In addition, a few of the systems are being impacted by internal electromechanical issues and external power supply outages, which the NWC is actively working to resolve.

“As we await further impact from Hurricane Melissa, the NWC wishes to remind customers that its emergency response and preparedness measures have been activated. Some of these measures include mobilising technical and emergency response teams, fuelling generators, heavy equipment and vehicles, and filling storage tanks to support post-storm recovery,” the NWC says.

Meanwhile, customers are urged to store and conserve water, and to take precautions to ensure that water used for drinking is safe.

The National Water Commission assures the public that it will provide further updates as conditions evolve and remains committed to maintaining service and safeguarding public health throughout the passage of Hurricane Melissa.