assessment of the socio-economic and environmental impact

Preliminary estimates indicate that the electrical subsector sustained total damage and losses of
some $1,073.25 Million 16 , all or which are reportedly direct (see Table 6.1).
b) Water Supply and Sanitation
The National Water Commission (NWC), the country’s primary provider of essential water and
wastewater services has estimated that damage to water systems amounted to approximately
$229.62 million, of which direct damage amounted to $79.62 million and indirect losses were
$150.0 million (See Table 4.1 and Figure 4.5). More than four hundred and sixty (460) water
supply systems and over six hundred (600) electricity-dependent facilities, including sewerage
facilities, across the island were affected in one way or another by the passage of this hurricane 17 .
Prior to Hurricane Dean making land fall, the Commission carried out a number of pre-hurricane
measures to protect and mitigate against possible damage of its facilities and assets. Some of
these measures included the procurement of 23 portable Genset standby generator units, capping
of the Yallah’s Intake, including the diversion of the water source from the intake and the
removal of pumps from Booster Stations that were susceptible to flooding. In addition, the
NWC provided the JPSCo with a document with NWC “priority systems for restoration”, which
included maps showing the locations of each of these critical facilities 18 .
16 Calculated at approximately 75% of JPS claim to OUR for Hurricane Ivan (1.431 billion)
17 In the event of extreme weather phenomenon such as Hurricane Dean, the island’s water and wastewater systems
are exposed to inherent risks. Many of the 460 water supply systems across the island, of necessity, have intakes in
riverbeds and are susceptible to flood damage and blockages; wells are often located in low lying plains and
susceptible to flooding; most systems are heavily dependent on National Power Grid for operations; more than 5,000
kilometres of undulating pipeline susceptible to land slippages, pipeline dislocation and breakages; water sources are
at risk of contamination and muddy inflows (high turbidity) after heavy rainfall; and most water systems are at least
partly situated in very remote areas that are difficult to access.
18 Source: NWC Report on the Status of Water Supply Systems Due to Hurricane Dean, October 08, 2007
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