Frequently Asked Questions

Waste water, sewage, chemicals, fertilizers, oil and grease, diesel oil and gasoline runs into rivers or seeps into groundwater from:

  • Pit latrines/Soak away pits
  • Factories
  • Farms
  • Garbage dumps

Underground storage tanks such as at gas stations

  • Water is pumped from a well or diverted from a river or spring.
  • This water runs through pipelines to a treatment plant where the water is made safe for drinking.
  • The treated water then is transferred by pipelines to our homes and taps.
  • In most cases the water may first be sent to a storage tank before getting to our taps

Water is used for the following:

Domestic Purposes

  • cooking
  • drinking
  • bathing
  • washing

Agricultural Purposes

  • farming gardening fisheries

Industrial Purposes

  • manufacturing

Recreation

  • swimming
  • rafting
  • boating

Hydropower generation

Water sources are the points from which your water comes. These include rivers, springs, ponds and wells. Water that comes from rivers, springs and ponds is called surface water. Water that runs underground and is tapped by a well is called groundwater. Most of Jamaica’s water is underground.

The endless circulation of water from the atmosphere to the earth and its return to the atmosphere through condensation,precipitation, evaporation and transpiration is called the water or hydrologic cycle.

Jamaica’s Water... Every Drop Precious