The National Water Commission’s water prohibition orders are scheduled to come into effect today as Jamaica continues to experience worsening drought conditions.
The orders will apply to Kingston, St. Andrew, St. Thomas, St. Mary, Portland, St. Ann, and St. Catherine, and will remain in effect until further notice.
The decision follows a high-level meeting involving the NWC and the Meteorological Service, which confirmed that rainfall levels remain critically low while temperatures continue to rise.
Under the prohibition orders, NWC customers will not be allowed to use piped water for non-essential or unusual purposes: watering gardens, lawns and farms, filling ponds and swimming pools, washing vehicles with a hose, washing roadways, pavements and garages, and any activity involving excessive or unusual quantities of water.
Water Minister Matthew Samuda has warned that sanctions will be imposed on individuals and businesses that breach the prohibition orders.
The Government says the NWC, Meteorological Service and other agencies will continue to monitor rainfall, reservoir levels and water storage capacity as the drought situation develops.
It’s really sad to hear about the loss of those brothers. I wonder how their family is coping through such a difficult time.
It’s a heart-breaking situation, let us continue to pray for the family, it can’t be easy.