PNP demands release of NWC water test results for Kingston and St Andrew

Opposition Spokesperson on Water, Ian Hayles, is demanding that the National Water Commission (NWC) publish internal reports on the alleged water contamination in Kingston and St Andrew.

Hayles' statement follows the NWC's rejection of claims that its water supply to some sections of rural St Andrew is unsafe.

"The people of Jamaica are not just customers of the NWC; they are its stakeholders. They deserve honesty and transparency regarding the safety of their water supply," Hayles said on Monday. "Unsafe water threatens lives, disrupts schools, and places an enormous burden on families—especially the elderly, children, and vulnerable communities."

Hayles said the government must explain the water treatment process and provide a clear timeline of events leading to alleged contamination.

Last Thursday, the NWC asserted that its operations meet the highest safety and quality standards and that its water is "continually monitored, thoroughly tested, and is in full compliance with the guidelines established by the Ministry of Health and Wellness (MOHW) and international best practices set by the World Health Organization."

The NWC's response came after Opposition People's National Party Councillor Jesse James Clarke, a microbiology and food quality lecturer, raised concerns about the safety of the water.

Clarke, who is also the chairman of the Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation's public health committee, said he has seen NWC test results from rural areas that showed contamination. "It's the NWC's results that are saying that the water is contaminated," Clarke told The Gleaner.

Clarke said water samples are returning a high number of positive results for faecal coliforms, a type of bacteria that indicates that the water has been contaminated with faeces, which could pose a serious public health concern.

"So, out of the number of samples that you choose to test, you should have less than 5 per cent of your samples coming down positive for fecal coliform. They're having like 27 per cent positive. They know they're having issues," Clarke said. "This is water from the rural treatment plants."

In its March 20 statement, the NWC acknowledged that small rural water systems "can" pose challenges due to environmental factors. But it said it "pays close attention to the potential issues and seeks to address them immediately."

"Notwithstanding the fact that a number of these facilities are remotely located and only serve very small segments of the population (for instance, less than 40 customers in Bowden Hill), the NWC is constantly reviewing its infrastructural designs and seeking to improve its water supply systems where vulnerabilities are identified," the commission said.

The Opposition is also questioning the government's communication protocols in informing residents about concerns regarding water quality.

"How does the NWC notify the public when issues like this arise? Timely warnings are essential so that people can protect themselves. This lack of communication is unacceptable," Hayles stated.

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