NWC undertakes emergency works to restore operations at Dalling Street facility

The National Water Commission (NWC) is advising that efforts are currently under way to restore full operations at its Dalling Street wastewater facility in downtown Kingston following a mechanical issue that has rendered one of its major pumps inoperable.

The NWC says a replacement pump is now being assembled and is expected to be installed at the plant by today.

While the remaining pumping equipment would normally be sufficient to prevent any overflow, recent upstream rainfall has overwhelmed the system, the commission noted.

As a result, motorists and pedestrians may observe instances of overflowing manholes in some areas.

The NWC is seeking to reassures the public that these issues will be fully corrected once the replacement pump is installed by Friday afternoon, and operations are normalized.

The commission further notes that the continued improper disposal of solid waste into the sewer network remains a major challenge, often leading to pump damage and costly repairs.

The NWC says this latest replacement marks the second major pump installed at the Dalling Street facility since the start of the year, representing millions of dollars in expenditure and significant disruption to normal pedestrian and commercial activities.

The NWC is calling for a collective effort to both sensitise and reinforce best practices to mitigate the negative impacts on its wastewater network.

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