Bipartisan approach to the water crisis

THE EDITOR, Madam:

Jamaica is slowly moving toward a large-scale water crisis. While climate variability, including El Niño events, can contribute to reduced rainfall, our water challenges are also linked to population growth, increasing demand, inadequate infrastructure, and the need for better long-term water management.

Every year, the National Water Commission announces water restrictions and shortages, particularly across Kingston and St Andrew. We cannot continue responding primarily through temporary restrictions and emergency measures. Our infrastructure must keep pace with a growing population and expanding urban areas.

Water insecurity does not affect all Jamaicans in the same way. I spent many summers in Clarendon, where some communities relied on springs, rivers, rainwater catchments, and water trucks for essential needs such as cooking, hygiene, and household use. Communities in more developed corporate areas often do not have the same alternatives readily available.

The Government and Opposition should work toward a bipartisan, long-term water strategy, with clear targets, funding commitments, monitoring mechanisms, and timelines that survive changes in administration. Water infrastructure takes years to plan, finance, construct, and maintain.

Developers should also be part of the solution. The Government could explore a regulated water infrastructure contribution for qualifying large-scale developments, with funds directed toward upgrading pipelines, reservoirs, treatment facilities, and other infrastructure in areas experiencing increased demand.

Jamaica should also examine desalination as a potential supplement during severe shortages, while investing in rainwater harvesting, watershed protection, groundwater management, wastewater reuse, leak reduction, and improved distribution.

Water security should be treated as national infrastructure, not an election-cycle issue. The question should no longer be whether Jamaica can afford to invest in water resilience. We should also ask what it will cost us if we fail to do so.

TYREKE MCLEAN