#Kingston, October 10, 2018 – Jamaica – A high-level multi-agency meeting is scheduled with the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) on Wednesday, October 10, to discuss the maintenance of watersheds in the Municipality.

The meeting will consist of representatives from the Kingston and St. Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC), the National Water Commission (NWC), the Ministry of Health, and the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries.  This was disclosed by Mayor of Kingston, Senator Councillor Delroy Williams, at today’s (October 9) sitting of the Corporation in downtown Kingston.

“We will be asking all the agencies to look into watersheds across the Municipality. We are not just going to focus on what is happening at the Constant Spring Water Treatment Plant. We really want to begin to look at other practices across the Municipality, in particular with watershed areas,” he said.

He said the technical officers at the KSAMC have been asked to review and monitor the monthly water quality reports when they are received.

“I have also asked our officers here to coordinate with all agencies and to begin to put together a report for us that outlines the various activities taking place adjacent to or within our watershed areas, such as farming and industrial action… any activity that can affect the turbidity levels,” he said.

Senator Williams informed that the matter regarding the water quality arose out of the KSAMC’s Public Health and Disaster Committee Meeting.

“The issue raised there was in relation to the water quality and the turbidity levels at the Constant Spring (Water) Treatment Plant, which supplies a significant section of the urban area. Subsequent to that, we made contact with the NWC, and they have assured that the quality of water outflow from the Treatment Plant is of a high quality.

We have also been assured by the Chief Public Health Inspector, so there is no issue with the quality of water,” he said.  He noted too that a multi-agency team also visited the area and carried out an assessment.

Release: JIS

Contact: Chris Patterson

Photos by: Adrian Walker

Photo Caption: Kingston’s Mayor, Senator Councillor Delroy Williams, addresses today’s (October 9) sitting of the Kingston and St. Andrew Municipal Corporation on Church Street in downtown Kingston.

Photographer: Adrian Walker