WATER RESOURCES AUTHORITY MINISTRY OF WATER AND HOUSING ANNUAL REPORT 2005 - 2006 WATER RESOURCES AUTHORITY ANNUAL REPORT FOR PERIOD 1ST APRIL 2005 - 31ST MARCH 2006 WATER RESOURCES AUTHORITY HOPE GARDENS P.O. BOX 91 KINGSTON 7 JAMAICA Tel: 927-0077 Fax: 702-3937 977-0179 E-mail: [email protected] Web Site: wra.gov.jm Our Mission To ensure sustainability of Jamaica‟s water resources through Continual assessment and proper management… The promotion of conservation and protection… Optimal development… …of the resources. To ensure rational and equitable allocation of the nation‟s resources, to reduce conflicts among water users. Water Resources Authority i Annual Report 2005/2006 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page TABLE OF CONTENTS .................................................................................................. i MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRMAN ........................................................................... iv MESSAGE FROM THE MANAGING DIRECTOR ..................................................... v FUNCTION OF THE AUTHORITY ................................................................................ 7 THE EXECUTIVE ............................................................................................................. 8 Board of the Authority ................................................................................................ 8 Meetings of the Board ............................................................................................... 8 Management of the Authority ................................................................................... 8 ALLOCATION OF WATER .......................................................................................... 10 Applications and Abstraction .................................................................................. 10 Permits ....................................................................................................................... 10 Licences ............................................................................................................. ……11 Water Allocation by Hydrologic Basin ................................................................... 12 SPECIAL CELEBRATIONS / EXHIBITIONS / EVENTS ........................................ 13 Fifth Inter-American Dialogue on Water Management ....................................... 14 Recommendations ........................................................................................... 16 Fourth World Water Forum ..................................................................................... 18 Forum Theme ................................................................................................... 19 Components of the Forum .............................................................................. 19 Thematic Component ...................................................................................... 20 Framework Themes ......................................................................................... 20 Cross Cutting Perspectives ............................................................................ 21 Daily Sessions .................................................................................................. 21 Water Fair .......................................................................................................... 24 World Water Expo ............................................................................................ 24 Ministerial Conference ..................................................................................... 24 Assistance from the Jamaican Embassy...................................................... 26 Conclusions ....................................................................................................... 26 Status Report on Flooding Across the Island as a Result of Tropical Depression/Tropical Storm/Hurricane Wilma ...................................................... 27 Porus - Harmons, Manchester ....................................................................... 27 Content/Trinity Environs .................................................................................. 27 Harmons ............................................................................................................ 30 Evergreen – Manchester ................................................................................. 34 Bliss Pasture in Wakefield, Trelawny ............................................................ 35 St. Elizabeth ...................................................................................................... 36 St. Ann ............................................................................................................... 37 Kennedy Grove – Clarendon .......................................................................... 39 ii Water Resources Authority Annual Report 2005/2006 ADMINISTRATION AND HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT ....................... 40 Resignation ............................................................................................................... 40 Recruitment ............................................................................................................... 40 Change in Responsibility ........................................................................................ 40 Seminar/Training/Workshop ................................................................................... 40 COMPUTER AND GIS UNIT ....................................................................................... 43 Water Resources Authority Management Information System (WRAMIS) .... 43 Challenges ................................................................................................................ 43 Training ...................................................................................................................... 43 Meetings and Seminars .......................................................................................... 44 Provided Technical Support for Capital Projects ................................................ 44 Assistance to External Agencies ........................................................................... 44 Projections (April 1, 2006 – March 31, 2007) ...................................................... 45 PERMITS AND LICENCES UNIT ............................................................................... 46 DATA COLLECTION & RESOURCE MANAGEMENT UNIT ................................ 46 Routine Monitoring of Surface and Ground Water under Normal and Extreme Conditions.................................................................................................................. 49 Requests for data and technical assistance ........................................................ 53 Rehabilitation, upgrade and expansion of the national hydrometric network . 55 Publication of hydrological yearbooks .................................................................. 55 Investigation of long-term trends in hydrological data ........................................ 55 Requests for technical training and educational support ................................... 56 Strengthen technical capabilities through subject-specific training .................. 56 Participation in local/international seminars/workshops/conferences ............. 57 PLANNING AND INVESTIGATION UNIT ................................................................. 58 Capital Projects ........................................................................................................ 58 Update of the Water Resources Development Master Plan ..................... 58 Aquifer Vulnerability Mapping (Island Hydrostratigraphic mapping). ....... 58 Evaluation of Saltwater Intrusion into Coastal Karstic Aquifers on Caribbean Islands. ........................................................................................... 59 Characterization of Groundwater in the Vicinity of Bauxite/Alumina Plants for the Optimal Use of Water Resources...................................................... 63 Hydrological Assessments.............................................................................. 63 Technical Assistance/ Technical Support .................................................... 64 Technical Assistance 2005/2006 ................................................................... 65 Data Provision .................................................................................................. 67 WATER QUALITY AND ENVIRONMENT UNIT ...................................................... 68 Development Applications ...................................................................................... 68 Special Investigations .............................................................................................. 69 Water Quality of Moneague Lake, St Ann .................................................... 69 Essex Valley, St Elizabeth Water Quality Report ....................................... 71 Figure 1 ............................................................................................................................ 73 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ......................................................................................... 74 Water Resources Authority iii Annual Report 2005/2006 Auditor General’s Report ........................................................................................ 76 Balance Sheet .........................................................................................................