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Jamaica

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Amazon
Area: 5888268 km2
Countries:
Brazil; Peru; Suriname; France; Colombia; Guyana; Bolivia; Venezuela; Ecuador
Cities:
Santa Cruz; Manaus; La Paz
PFAF ID:
HydroBasin Level:
Baseline Water Stress:
Water Quality Stress:
Sanitation Access Stress:
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Water-Related Challenge Costs

Total annual estimated cost to address all water-related challenges: $401,390,528.00

Share of total annual estimated cost to address each individual challenge (2015 $USD):

  • Access to Drinking Water: $128,785,935.00 - [32%]
  • Access to Sanitation: $63,841,199.00 - [16%]
  • Industrial Pollution: $26,807,505.00 - [7%]
  • Agricultural Pollution: $21,151,519.00 - [5%]
  • Water Scarcity: $93,905,949.00 - [23%]
  • Water Management: $66,898,421.00 - [17%]

For more about this data, see information on WRI’s Achieving Abundance dataset here.

Water Challenges

As reported by organizations on the Hub.

100.0%
Access to Water Supply and Water Services

Country Overview

1.1.1.WATER RESOURCES Fifty-six per cent of the average annual rainfall is lost to evapotranspiration. The internal renewable water resources (IRWR) are 9.4km3/year, with 5.5 and 3.9km3/year for surface and groundwater respectively. Approximately 44 per cent of these IRWR are considered exploitable or reliable. Of the total reliable yield of 4.09km3/year, 80 per cent is contributed from limestone aquifers, 4 per cent from alluvial aquifers and 16 per cent from surface water runoff. About 20 per cent from the limestone aquifers is extracted through wells, mainly in the River Cobre and River Minho. However, in other basins, the water is generally available as base flow and is exploitable through run-of-river developments. There are two major raw water storage facilities, both located in St. Andrew. The Mona Reservoir, with intakes at the Hope and Yallahs Rivers, has a storage capacity of 3.67 million m3. The Hermitage Reservoir, with intakes at Ginger River and Wag/Morsham River, has a storage capacity 1.78 million m3. The last assessment of water resources in Jamaica in 1997 indicated total exploitable water resources of 4085 million m3/yr with groundwater providing 3419 million m3/yr and surface water providing 666 million m3/yr. In 1997, production from both sources totaled 939 million m3/yr leaving a balance of 3163 million m3/yr for development. However, the state-owned National Water Commission (NWC) is hampered in its commitment to make water accessible to every Jamaican because of the financial hardships being faced by the government. It is estimated that Jamaica is using less than one-fifth of total available water. Approximately 10 per cent of the island’s water resources have been lost to saline intrusion and pollution (Springer, 2005). According to CEPAL (2005), some 87 per cent of Jamaica's water supply is obtained from groundwater sources. Even so, only 25 per cent of the available resources is actually in use. Despite the attention given to abstraction wells, contamination of groundwater is evident. Associated with this phenomenon are saline contamination as a result of the withdrawal of groundwater in quantities in excess of the safe yield; poor well-head designs; caustic soda contamination from ponding of red mud wastes from the bauxite/alumina industry; nitrate contamination from soak-aways built for sewage disposal; and organic and bacteriological contamination from disposal of dunder and other effluent from the sugar/rum industry.

(Water Risk Filter) 

Country Water Profile

Coming Soon

Organizations in Jamaica


To empower underprivileged section of the society by taking stand and providing with financial and logistic support to bring quantities and qualitative changes in their livelihood development for in an Equal and just society implementing the SDG goals by the … Learn More

To create and implement innovative, environmentally friendly wastewater treatment and reuse solutions for any situation anywhere in the world. System O)) are various certified wastewater treatment solutions in terms of performance by the United States, Canada, Europe, and many others. … Learn More

WaterAid is an international NGO focused exclusively on ensuring equitable access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene education for the world’s poorest communities. Formed in 1981, we have been working in water, sanitation and hygiene for over 30 years. To … Learn More

Projects in Jamaica


Project WET is currently active in more than 75 countries around the world through a network of partner organizations that range from small NGOs to major international corporations and organizations. We only go where we’re invited! We work with our … Learn More


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