Page 114 - JSIF Magazine Approved-v2-web4
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bathroom, but there was a greater share of households relying at 30cm from the top. The Water Resource Authority (WRA),
on the facility because of the unreliable water supply. There was Source Hydrology Investigation (2001) stated that overflow
a local water catchment facility in Hampstead but the demand from Hampstead system was measured at 131,736 litres per
outweighed its capacity. day. The development of the source would have to be through
trapping the existing overflow to augment supply.
The community was therefore affected in the following ways:
• Poor hygienic practices
• Loss of social capital
• Loss of productive time
• High infrastructure development cost
• Underdevelopment of industries
PROBLEMS TO BE ADDRESSED
Figure 1: Map Showing the Water Source for Hampstead
Community.
IMPLEMENTATION
Leaking pipe from catchment (water storage) area. The objective of the project was to provide an adequate water
supply to the Hampstead community by exploring all options
The existing water system was originally built in 1959 to to rehabilitate the existing spring intake and pipeline. To ensure
supply water to a few houses via standpipes in the community. sustainability of the system, JSIF provided training to targeted
Although the population increased there had not been any community members along with the equipment to make sure
significant upgrades or improvement to the system. There was the Community had the capability to develop, manage and
also a large steel tank within the community which was once maintain the system.
used for storage that was found to be defunct; with pipelines
which were corroded and leaking in several places. COMMUNITY OPERATED WATER SUPPLY (COWS)
Residents had outdated meters and were paying a flat rate The project was implemented using the JSIF Community
of $300 per month to the St. Mary Parish Council, which was Based Contracting (CBC) methodology where the community
responsible for the operation of the system. Hampstead was group implements the project and JSIF provides financing
supplied from one source that was unreliable to meet the actual and technical guidance. The groups chose the CBC Model
and future water supply demand. The water usage was larger 2 which is expected to reduce administrative costs and
than the inflow at the source. Lack of water could have also overheads, provide a reduced cost for labour and afford greater
been caused by leakages along the pipelines and distribution sustainability as it is developed with input by the community for
network. continued management by them
EXISTING WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM
Hampstead was supplied from a spring that was entombed at
source at an approximate elevation of 290 meters above sea
level. Water was piped from the spring to a concrete settling
tank with the capacity of 5,700 litres which had an overflow pipe
Community members and contracted workers working on the water reservoir
114 and laying water pipes in the roadway.
