Jamaica: Macro-Socio-Economic and Environmental Assessment of ...

service data provided in Figure 4-2, in combination with the average daily revenue as recorded
for last year 6 . Operational cost increases were estimated taking into consideration overtime of
field personnel, the cost of operation or rental of tanker trucks, increased fuel and water filtering
and treatment costs, on the basis of information provided in the annual report of the NWC and of
the time required for recovery of the service.
It was estimated that the water supply and sanitation subsector sustained total damage and losses
of $578.8 million (US$9.3 million), of which direct damage amounted to $90 million and
indirect losses were $488 million. Due to the need to import some equipment and materials from
abroad, a $134 million (US$2.2 million) negative impact will be sustained by the external sector.
(See Table 4-2.)
Table 4-2
Estimated Impact of the Hurricane on the Water Supply and Sanitation sector of Jamaica
($Million)
Damage and losses
Component
Sector Effect on
Total Damage Losses Public Private external
sector
Total 578.7 190.4 488.3 578.7 --- 134
Infrastructure 190.4 190.4
Decline in revenues
Increased operational costs
145.0
- Labour
178.8
- Use of tanker trucks
6.5
- Fuel costs
28.0
- Treatment and filtering costs 30.0
Source: Estimates made by ECLAC on the basis of official information.
145.0
178.8
6.5
28.0
30.0
These damage and losses sustained by the water supply and sanitation subsector will have an
impact on other sectors. In the health sector, for instance, the lack of water created problems in
the operation of hospitals and other facilities and the absence of a fully reliable quality in the
water supply is partly responsible for increased morbidity rates, as described in chapter three of
this report. In addition, the temporary absence of safe water at homes has forced people to resort
to purchase bottled water for consumption, thus affecting their household budget.
2. Transport
The hurricane caused a very negative impact on roads and generated revenue losses in the
international airport in the capital city of Kingston.
a) Road transport
The heavy rains produced by hurricane Ivan and the ensuing floods, land and mud slides inflicted
a heavy toll on the road network of the island, including both main roads maintained by the
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