Dear Editor,
We write to correct several inaccuracies and clarify statements made in the Jamaica Observer article ‘NWC cuts off water to Forum residents’, published on Friday, November 18, 2016.
1. The National Water Commission (NWC) provides potable water to the Bay Front development households under a bulk meter supply. This is not a “negotiated” arrangement by the developer as the NWC supplies several developments throughout Jamaica under this same service policy.
2. Construction water is facilitated by a separate metered supply that is billed to the developer.
3. There is a direct connection for potable water through the NWC bulk meter and raw sewage is delivered to the NWC system through the development’s own sump house. Both systems were tested and retested before being put into commission, and have satisfied all requirements made by the NWC or the Portmore Municipal Council.
4. As of June 7, 2016, the bulk meter account was transferred to the Bay Front Citizens Association (BFVCA) with a zero balance. The amount due to NWC is an accumulation of usage that has not been addressed by the BFVCA, and for which the developers have no responsibility.
5. All homeowners have opened accounts with the NWC. The NWC has not initiated the subtractive billing under which each homeowner will receive their own water bill. Until then, the BFVCA is responsible for collecting charges for water usage from each homeowner.
6. A standby generator has been ordered and will be installed in the near term. Since the development is not fully occupied, it would require a JPS outage of at least 24 hours before any overflow would occur. Additionally, the sump system was designed with a backup procedure to address any occurrence of this type.
We understand that the BFVCA is working assiduously to rectify this unfortunate situation with the NWC, and for the good of all concerned, we have facilitated whenever possible.
Gina Harrison
Project General Manager
Portmore Marina Developments
Bay Front Villas & Apartments
gharrisonwork@gmail.com
We write to correct several inaccuracies and clarify statements made in the Jamaica Observer article ‘NWC cuts off water to Forum residents’, published on Friday, November 18, 2016.
1. The National Water Commission (NWC) provides potable water to the Bay Front development households under a bulk meter supply. This is not a “negotiated” arrangement by the developer as the NWC supplies several developments throughout Jamaica under this same service policy.
2. Construction water is facilitated by a separate metered supply that is billed to the developer.
3. There is a direct connection for potable water through the NWC bulk meter and raw sewage is delivered to the NWC system through the development’s own sump house. Both systems were tested and retested before being put into commission, and have satisfied all requirements made by the NWC or the Portmore Municipal Council.
4. As of June 7, 2016, the bulk meter account was transferred to the Bay Front Citizens Association (BFVCA) with a zero balance. The amount due to NWC is an accumulation of usage that has not been addressed by the BFVCA, and for which the developers have no responsibility.
5. All homeowners have opened accounts with the NWC. The NWC has not initiated the subtractive billing under which each homeowner will receive their own water bill. Until then, the BFVCA is responsible for collecting charges for water usage from each homeowner.
6. A standby generator has been ordered and will be installed in the near term. Since the development is not fully occupied, it would require a JPS outage of at least 24 hours before any overflow would occur. Additionally, the sump system was designed with a backup procedure to address any occurrence of this type.
We understand that the BFVCA is working assiduously to rectify this unfortunate situation with the NWC, and for the good of all concerned, we have facilitated whenever possible.
Gina Harrison
Project General Manager
Portmore Marina Developments
Bay Front Villas & Apartments
gharrisonwork@gmail.com