FRUSTRATION BUILDING IN CHESTER, SPICY GROVE, ST ANN
Residents of Chester and surrounding communities in North West St Ann say they have been without water for nearly 12 weeks now in their communities.
Most affected are residents of Chester Spicy Grove and Nelson, all farming communities.
They are appealing for assistance with water, as the drought bites, crops wilt, and animals go thirsty. Residents say they are severely inconvenienced in their domestic activities.
Residents who contacted the North Coast Times, last weekend say their supply system reportedly got damaged more than eleven weeks ago. Their supply comes from a system near Laughlands, that is fed by a river from Cranbrook estates.
The Times reached out to Councillor for the area, Sydney Steward, chairman of the St Ann Municipal Corporation (SAMC).
Mayor Stewart said the pump that served the are got damaged several weeks ago. He said the National Water Commission (NWC) determined that the pump was beyond repairs and ordered a new one.
He said NWC has been trucking water to the communities but not consistently enough to satisfy the needs of residents.
Meantime, one resident said he had to get a friend to take him out of the area to have a proper shower after weeks of going without one.
Farmers of pigs and chickens are particularly badly affected.
Taxi operatorBunny sourcing water
(Taxi operator Bunny sourcing water outside the area for friends in Chester)
“The municipality is assisting by trucking water to the communities also.. In fact, we were in Chester on Saturday and Sunday [July 29 & 30] delivering water with a private contractor,” Mayor Stewart said.
Councillor Stewart asked the resident to be patient and said he recognized their difficulties. He said the SAMC would continue to truck water to the communities.
(Storage containers like these are common but often empty)
He said he should know on Wednesday, August 2, what is the schedule for the pump, ordered by the NWC.
