JAMAQUA - Providing Safe Clean Drinking Water
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Hello, and welcome to JAMAQUA! We’re Valentino and Erika, the founders of this clean water initiative dedicated to improving access to safe drinking water in Jamaica. Our mission is straightforward: we’re rebuilding outdated reservoirs and water systems to provide sustainable drinking water to schools and communities in the Cockpit Country region of Jamaica.
Visit our website to learn more and meet the team: https://www.jamaqua.org
With every 500 SEK donation you WIN a chance at a trip to JAMAICA ( lottery ticket for: 2 Persons, 2 Week, Flight & Hotel)
What is Jamaqua?
Jamaqua is the flagship initiative of ETHEA®, a non-governmental organization (NGO) we launched in 2024 to tackle critical environmental and health challenges in Jamaica. Through Jamaqua, we collaborate with local residents and stakeholders to rehabilitate aging water infrastructures. This includes repairing and equipping them with modern filtration systems and water testing labs, ensuring every drop is safe to consume.
It’s important to note that we are physically on-site, working hand-in-hand with local community members. It’s tough, gritty work—think dirt under our nails and mud in our boots—but it’s the most effective way to ensure resources are responsibly used and that sustainable change takes root.
Why Cockpit Country? The Challenges Residents Face
The Cockpit Country is a biodiverse and ecologically vital region, but its residents are burdened by severe water access and safety issues:
1. Reliance on Bottled Water
- 90% of households depend on bottled water for drinking, sold in small 500ml or 1-litre containers.
- With daily household incomes averaging just $20–26 USD, this dependency places an overwhelming financial strain on families.
- Limited alternatives, such as reducing water consumption or using unsafe water, lead to chronic health problems such as hypertension, diabetes, and obesity.
2. Unsafe Chlorinated Water
- Public Drinking water tanks are treated bi-weekly with high-concentration chlorine tablets, same as those used in treating public swimming pools.
- Water is tested once a month for chlorine levels and deemed 'OK' by the government, but residents and public institution staff insist that it is unsafe for drinking and cooking due stomach issues they experience sometimes after consumption.
- Despite the risks and negative experiences for many residents, including young children, there is no other choice but to consume it or buy bottled water.
3. Insufficient Water Access
- Access to water for everyday tasks is unreliable.
- Rainwater harvesting systems and public reservoirs frequently experience long-term disruptions, with some pumps left broken for over four years.
- Private water sources, lacking government testing, often leave residents uncertain about their safety.
4. Health and Sanitation Risks
- Waterborne diseases like dengue fever are common, fueled by stagnant water and mosquito breeding.
- Aging water tanks (dating back to the 1940s–1960s) leach heavy metals and toxins, further compromising health.
- Recent fatalities underscore the urgency of addressing these hazards.
5. Pollution from Mining
- Bauxite mining operations pollute local water sources with toxic runoff and airborne dust.
- Soil testing for new bauxite deposits risks escalating environmental damage, threatening both water safety and biodiversity.
6. Government Inaction
- The government does not officially recognize the region’s water crisis, citing the technical availability of chlorine-treated water.
- Urban areas benefit from piped water systems, while Cockpit Country residents are left reliant on rainwater, river sources, or expensive bottled water.
Our Plan:
Phase I: Restore 3 Critical Water Systems
During the 1st phase of the project, starting April 2025 until March 2026, we will restore three key water reservoirs in Trelawny’s mountainous villages: These reservoirs are:
- Litchfield & Joe Hut: 2 80,000-litre Hillside Rain-Harvesting Reservoirs
- Green Town: River Dam, Pumps and water Distribution Pipeline
The 3 reservoirs are inter-connecting, equipped with a 3-kilometer long pipeline distribution network. This system was abondoned by the government 6-10 years ago and such are currently out of service. Our planned activities includes:
- Repairing rain catchment areas and damaged infrastructure.
- Restoring tanks and pipelines to ensure consistent water flow.
- Replacing broken pumps, and distribution pipeline network assuring reliable, year-round supply.
- Repairing pump houses and building filtration housing facilities
- Installing modern filtration systems for clean, drinkable water.
Watch this video to learn more about Our Filtration Process
After the completion of the 1st phase of the project, we will renovate 17 additional (similar) hillside water reservoir systems in and around the Cockpit country. At the end of the Jamaqua project, we expect to provide safe clean drinking water to 35,000 – 40,000 local residence, which includes school, health and wellness centres, libraries and churches.
With your support, we can make this vision a reality and deliver clean, safe, and accessible water to these underserved communities.
Join us in making clean water a reality for the Cockpit Country.
Organizer
Valentino Blake
Organizer
Stockholm, AB, Sweden, AB