Six major projects, funded by the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), will be undertaken by the Rural Water Supply Limited (RWSL), which will significantly improve access and transform the lives of more than 38,000 Jamaicans.

The areas to benefit include St. Mary South Eastern and Western, Trelawny Southern, St. Elizabeth North Eastern, St. Thomas Eastern and St. Ann North Western.

Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, made the announcement during his 2025/26 Budget Debate presentation in the House of Representatives on Thursday (March 20).

Dr. Holness said RWSL and CDB are currently finalising the necessary documentation for procuring design services, with the advertisement expected to be published by March 31, 2025.

Regarding the Greater Mandeville Water Supply Improvement Project, Prime Minister Holness said the development is being undertaken at a cost of $2.7 billion and is midway in its five-year scope.

“This project will reduce Non-Revenue Water (NRW) to below 50 per cent, increase service reliability and quality of service, given that we are now building out new housing schemes in Mandeville and other areas,” he stated.

Meanwhile, Dr. Holness said the Rio Cobre Water Treatment Plant Project has now entered the construction phase, with a targeted completion date for the end of 2026.

This facility will be the second largest in Jamaica and is expected to positively impact more than 150,000 National Water Commission customers in the Kingston and St. Andrew metropolitan area, and Portmore and Spanish Town, St. Catherine.