Residents of Orange district appeal for water supply
THE EDITOR, Madam:
WE THE citizens of Orange district, Sign PO, at Bottom Road, St James, are desperately appealing to the authorities to intervene into the ongoing issue of uneven water distribution in our community – we desire to enjoy the comfort of regular water flow through our pipes once again.
This community has been supplied by the Appleton Spring Pump for decades and received a constant water flow, except on occasions when the pump malfunctioned. However, our water supply has been disrupted for over a year and although numerous reports have been made to the National Water Commission (NWC), to date the issue has not yet been resolved. We feel left out since we have learnt that surrounding communities that were once without water, now have water supply, while we, on the other hand, are being deprived. Prime Minister Andrew Holness said that his administration has supplied communities with water that were once without.
While we can appreciate the need of other communities, we would however expect an equitable distribution; but this is not the case.
PIPES DRY
The NWC has acknowledged that there is a problem and it is not a result of a shortage of water or a matter related to the pump. They are aware of the water overflowing the tanks that the Appleton Spring supplies, while our pipes remain dry.
For whatever reason, the water is simply not being distributed to some sections of the community. We are frustrated because our appeals continue to fall on deaf ears and we are now tired; tired of the substandard living where our dirty clothes are piling up like garbage; tired of bathing in half-buckets of water and urinating a hundred times before flushing our toilets.
During the coronavirus pandemic, maintaining good hygiene is very important – we are advised to wash hands frequently, wash grocery items after purchasing, and to keep our general surroundings clean and sanitised. However, instead of us receiving a better flow of water, we are being cut off.
We believe that for every problem identified, there is a solution; we are therefore looking forward to an early resolution of this long, ongoing issue. Your prompt attention would be greatly appreciated as we remind the Water Commission that ‘Water is Life’.
CITIZENS OF ORANGE DISTRICT