NWC silence on Marlie Mount facility frustrates residents

The disruption, caused by repair works at the NWC's Marlie Mount facility, has left more than 2,000 residents without reliable running water, forcing them to seek expensive alternatives from private trucking companies.

The NWC’s lack of communication is a primary source of frustration for the affected residents. Many report that the water company’s customer care representatives seem unaware of the major service disruption. Instead, residents are advised to navigate a bureaucratic process by submitting a formal request for assistance.

“They are telling you to make a formal request before they can send a water truck. It has been more than a week now, and we still don’t see any truck, and we have no water,” said Garfield, a resident who requested to be identified by his first name only.

While the NWC has attempted to divert water from a nearby facility through its integrated system, the measure has provided little relief. Only households at lower elevations in the hilly community are receiving water intermittently, and even then, at critically low pressure.

“Water comes in the pipe sometimes, but it’s low,” said resident Michael Duhaney. “Sometimes the pressure is so low, I can only get a little water from the outside pipe.”

He added that the problem is widespread. “Most of the people aren’t getting any water. All my friends in the Church Pen area tell me they haven’t received a single drop since the water went last week Tuesday.”

The impact of the crisis has extended to essential services. The Marlie Mount Primary and Infant School, with a student population of approximately 1,300, was forced to postpone its Parent Awards function on Wednesday due to the water lock-off.

In an audio message to stakeholders, Principal Calvin Harris revealed that the school has remained operational only due to the support of parents and a past student who have been assisting with the supply of water.

When the disruption began, Old Harbour News was advised by NWC Corporate Communications Director Delano Williams that the pump had been taken out of commission for assessment. At that time, he stated the NWC was unable to provide a restoration timeframe. Since that communication 48 hours into the crisis, repeated attempts for an update have been unsuccessful, and daily checks of the NWC’s online portals have revealed no official updates on the downed system.

As the water crisis enters its second week, residents are left with mounting costs, unanswered questions, and a desperate plea for information and restoration.