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assessment of the socio-economic and environmental impact

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Water supply systems were primarily affected by:-<br />

1. Extremely high turbidity levels especially at systems served by surface water sources (i.e.<br />

rivers <strong>and</strong> springs)<br />

2. Absence <strong>of</strong> Electricity<br />

3. Blocked <strong>and</strong> damaged intake structures<br />

4. Dislocated <strong>and</strong> broken mains<br />

5. Blocked access to critical facilities<br />

Approximately 80% <strong>of</strong> water supply systems stopped operating during or immediately before <strong>the</strong><br />

hurricane’s passage, while some customers continued to receive piped water throughout <strong>the</strong><br />

passing hurricane. Among <strong>the</strong> major systems that operated throughout passage <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Hurricane<br />

were <strong>the</strong> Bogue Water Treatment Plant (WTP) in St. Ann <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> Roaring River WTP in<br />

Westmorel<strong>and</strong>.<br />

Immediately following <strong>the</strong> passage <strong>of</strong> Hurricane Dean, NWC took steps to restore water supply<br />

systems that could be operated on available st<strong>and</strong>by generators to areas that could be supplied by<br />

means <strong>of</strong> gravity flow. The Constant Spring WTP (18 mgd) <strong>and</strong> Mona WTP (15 mgd) in St.<br />

Andrew, <strong>the</strong> Great River WTP (15 mgd) in St. James <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> Martha Brae (6 mgd) in Trelawny<br />

were re-activated to service <strong>and</strong> were fully operational by mid-morning on Sunday August 19,<br />

2007. These plants were operated using st<strong>and</strong>-by generators. O<strong>the</strong>rs were restored over <strong>the</strong> last 7<br />

days as intakes were cleared <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> electricity grid was energized.<br />

By <strong>the</strong> end <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> day following <strong>the</strong> event, approximately 40% <strong>of</strong> production capacity was<br />

restored. Nearly all <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> largest water supply systems were back in operation using available<br />

st<strong>and</strong>by generators or by means <strong>of</strong> gravity flow distribution. In addition, most wastewater<br />

facilities were also back in operation. As a complement to <strong>the</strong> delivery <strong>of</strong> piped water supply,<br />

NWC initiated a comprehensive water trucking operation utilizing <strong>the</strong> services <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Rapid<br />

Response Unit <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Ministry <strong>of</strong> Water <strong>and</strong> Housing, private trucks <strong>and</strong> its own water trucks.<br />

Priority was placed on supplying water to hospitals, health facilities <strong>and</strong> shelters. As more <strong>and</strong><br />

more piped water supply systems are brought back into operation, <strong>the</strong> focus <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> trucking<br />

operations became more concentrated in those areas still without piped service.<br />

52

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