JPS rebuilds network to restore water

The Jamaica Public Service (JPS) says "relatively few" of its customers will be restored despite the extensive rebuilding of electricity lines to the National Water Commission (NWC) facility in Roaring River, Westmoreland.

The Roaring River facility supplies water to approximately 50,000 residents of the parish.

JPS President and Chief Executive Officer Hugh Grant said the scale of work under way far exceeds the number of customers who will directly regain electricity once the lines are energised. However, he stressed that the overriding priority is restoring water to residents who have been without the commodity since the passage of Hurricane Melissa last October.

"We understand the inconvenience and potential health challenges caused by the absence of water," Grant said.

"While relatively few JPS customers will be restored despite the extensive work being done here, the greater benefit lies in getting water to the residents," he added.

The restoration effort stretches from JPS's Paradise substation to the Roaring River facility, across terrain severely damaged by floodwaters and landslides. Entire sections of the electricity network were destroyed, forcing engineers to redesign routes, relocate infrastructure and rebuild from scratch.

According to JPS, over 300 electricity poles are being replanted along the corridor. More than 100 line workers have been deployed to complete the work, including overseas specialists and local contractors working alongside JPS crews around the clock.

Kenyatta Campbell, operations area manager at JPS, underscored the challenges facing restoration crews.

"This is some of the most difficult work our teams have had to undertake during the restoration process," he said.

Once completed, the works will not only allow for the re-energisation of the Roaring River NWC facility, but will also restore electricity to Petersfield, Shrewsbury, Carawina, Waterworks, Dean's Valley, Petersfield High School, and surrounding sections of the Petersfield community.