NWC INITIATES EMERGENCY PROCEDURES IN RESPONSE TO AIRY CASTLE ROAD PIPELINE BREAK

In response to major disruptions created by the forced shut-down of its Seaview Water Treatment Plant that serves Stony Hill and adjoining areas in St. Andrew as a result of the collapsed Airy Castle Road bridge, the National Water Commission (NWC) is initiating emergency contracting and procurement procedures to speed up the restoration efforts.

This was disclosed by NWC President, Mr. Mark Barnett, who visited the site of the damaged pipes beneath the Airy Castle Road bridge on Sunday (February 17, 2019) and held an emergency planning meeting with a team of NWC engineers and executives on Monday morning (February 18, 2019).

While the situation is still very dynamic, the NWC is striving to effectively restore water supply to its 2,000 affected customers served by the Seaview Water Treatment Plant by effecting a temporary pipeline connection while the designs and arrangements for the permanent pipeline and its required support structure are still being finalized. Excavations to unearth the pipes in the area and sourcing of the pipes have already begun.

The NWC’s Seaview Water Treatment Plant is the fourth largest water treatment plant in the Corporate Area and produces more than 2 million gallons per day that is distributed to areas including:   Stony Hill, Golden Spring, Jack's Hill, Stillwell Road, Tavistock Heights, Manning's hill, Bridge Mount, Sunset Avenue, Boone Hall, Mount Ogle, Skyline Drive and Mountain Spring.

Further updates will be provided as the emergency interventions continue.