- Water overhaul planned for 28 towns
- National non-revenue water remains near 70%
- Rio Cobre plant targets May 2027
- Aging networks constrain reliable household supply
KINGSTON, Jamaica, 5 October 2026. Jamaica is preparing a major overhaul of its water distribution network, with a proposed 10-year programme targeting 28 towns and aiming to reduce the share of treated water that never generates revenue. The initiative could affect the reliability of supply to existing neighbourhoods and the capacity to service future housing developments.
The Ministry of Water, Environment and Climate Change says a contractor is expected to be selected later in 2026 for the nationwide programme. Its stated objective is to bring non-revenue water down from approximately 70 per cent to 30 per cent. The term covers physical leakage as well as theft, meter inaccuracies and other unbilled use. It should not be confused with a measurement of pipe leakage alone.
Existing towns face different targets
In Kingston, Portmore and Spanish Town, where earlier interventions have reduced non-revenue water to roughly 38 to 40 per cent, the Ministry is targeting a further reduction to about 20 per cent. The National Water Commission confirmed at the end of September that much of its wider distribution network remains old and that losses are still high nationally.
The planned work follows decades of supply problems affecting households and commercial properties. Among current projects, the Ferry-to-Rock Pond distribution main is intended to improve service in areas including Coopers Hill and Red Hills. The Ministry also says designs are progressing for the Yallahs pipeline upgrade and plans are being advanced for a larger Hermitage Dam. These proposals are at different stages and should not be treated as completed improvements.
Rio Cobre project remains a key test
The US$92 million Rio Cobre Water Treatment Plant in St Catherine is expected to deliver around 15 million gallons of treated water per day to parts of St Catherine and the Corporate Area. The Ministry now targets 10 May 2027 for the plant to begin supplying the network. Earlier government information indicated that approximately 600,000 residents could benefit, including communities in Spanish Town, Portmore, Kingston and St Andrew.
Separately, the National Reconstruction and Resilience Authority is examining whether additional large-scale storage and smaller community water tanks could strengthen drought resilience. It has also identified inadequate sewerage infrastructure in downtown Kingston as a possible constraint on redevelopment. Those ideas require technical work and are not yet confirmed construction projects.
For homebuyers, residents and developers, the central issue is delivery. Greater treatment capacity and reduced network losses could improve service, but announced targets do not by themselves guarantee reliable water at individual properties. The pace of investment, repairs and distribution upgrades will determine when households see results.
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