Facts on Jamaica Geographical Location
Jamaica is the third largest island in the Caribbean, measuring 233km in length and 80 km wide. It is situated 145km south of Cuba at latitude 280. Over half of the island is over 300m above sea level, the Blue Mountain peak being the highest point (2256m) on the island. Over 120 rivers are/were found on the island. Jamaica is a tropical island with marginal annual temperature variations. The hurricane season extends from June to November.
Population
There are over 2.5 million people mainly centred around urban centres. The two major centres are Kingston ( capital of Jamaica) and Montego Bay. There are two international airports one in each of the two cities. Kingston and its immediate surroundings account for over half of a million people.
Industry
Tourism is the main source of foreign exchange, followed by bauxite and agriculture. The country exports around 1 billion tons per annum of bauxite making it the world’s third largest exporter of this raw material. Agriculture contributes only about 9% to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Political
Jamaica has a two party democratic system (Westminster Model) of government, an election is constitutionally due every five (5) years.
Environmental Issues affecting Jamaica
Destruction of watersheds (Deforestation)
Destruction of wetlands
Coastal water pollution
Improper solid waste disposal
Improper Disposal of sewage, industrial wastewater and agricultural run-off
Waste/Wastewater Production/Generation
500,000 tons of solid waste are generated in Jamaica each year 70% of which is organic in nature.
With regard to sewage an estimate of the national average generation is 450,000 m3/day equivalent to approximately 165 million m3/year. The total BOD generated as sewage would be in the order of 50 – 60,000 tonnes per annum and total solids of the same magnitude. The major urban centres of Kingston and St. Andrew, Montego Bay and south-east St. Catherine account for about 50% of total sewage generated.
Most of the industrial wastewater generated in Jamaica is from the Agro-based industries namely: Breweries, Coffee pulperies, Distilleries, Sugar factories, dairy products and slaughter- houses.
These industries account for the generation of over 50 million cubic metres per annum representing a COD load of approximately 80,000 tonnes per annum.
The hotel sector is also a major contributor to the wastewater generation accounting for about six (6) million cubic metres per annum.
Wastewater Management in Jamaica
The GTZ GmbH in collaboration with the SRC carried out a study on wastewater management in Jamaica that resulted in the following findings:
On-site facilities for disposing of sewage and also point sources of industrial wastewater especially from the agro-industries are significant causes of water pollution.
The majority of existing wastewater treatment plants are not functioning properly or effectively.
There is insufficient know-how and practical experience of Environmentally Sound Wastewater Management (ESWM) available locally to meet existing need and priorities and to service the anticipated growth in demand for effective, affordable and sustainable solutions to the pollution problems.
Existing legislation and its enforcement requires reinforcing by other economic and policy measures e.g. Introduction of appropriate economic instruments for the promotion of ISO 14,000.
There is a need for some scheme to help mitigate the financial burden of investments in ESWM.
Wastewater Traetment and Disposal in Jamaica
The domestic sewage generated across the island is handled in the following ways:
Central Sewage system – 25% of the population (mainly by NWC)
Pit Latrines – 50% of the population
Soak-aways – 20% of the population
Septic tanks/soak-aways – 4% of the population
Other soil absorption systems – 1% of the population
Industrial wastewater producers especially agro-processing industries to date, have partial or no treatment facilities in place to treat their waste. Agro-processing is one of the largest sources of wastewater generation in Jamaica. Most of our hotels treat their wastewater via decentralized units (Package Plants). Most of these package plants are not being run/operated and maintained properly due to the fact that the operators lack the necessary skills to carry out such a task.
Solid waste disposal is also improperly done, unsorted waste is dumped on landfills that are poorly managed and poorly designed. Quite a few of these landfills were condemned and were ordered closed.
Treatment Systems in Jamaica
In Jamaica there is a wide variety of waste treatment systems (technologies) in operation. Most of these systems are between 20 – 30 years old which makes most of them non-functional in terms of their design capacity. There are approximately 150 such systems in Jamaica which include:
Aerated Lagoon
Activated Sludge
Oxidation Ditch
Sand Filter
Septic Tank/Tile Field
Rotating Biological Contractor
Trickling Filters
The application of anaerobic technology in Jamaica is not well established. The past twenty years have seen the introduction of the Bio-digester units for the treatment or partial treatment of mostly farm waste. This particular method of treatment has not “taken-off” as expected due to the major problem of obtaining private financing for these projects. The application of the anaerobic technology for the treatment of wastewater generated from agro-processing was introduced to Jamaica through the Integrated Wastewater Management Project. This introduction includes pilot plant studies and the operation of the first demonstration scale (500 m3 UASB reactor- 1997/98) operation on sugar wastewater which resulted in COD reduction of over 70%. The anaerobic technology is favourable for the Jamaican situation due to the fact that these systems cost a lot less to operate and maintain than the anaerobic system and produce of biogas, which is valuable source of energy.
Scientific Research Council’s (SRC’s) Involvement
Under the sponsorship of the Government of Jamaica and Germany, the Scientific Research Council together with the Germany Agency for Technical Co-operation (GTZ) have implemented the Integrated Wastewater Management Project (IWMP).
Purpose
The project aims to establish Environmentally Sound Wastewater Management (ESWM) in Jamaica in order to significantly reduce the severe impacts which discharges of wastewater from point sources are having on economically important natural resources and eco-systems. The term “Wastewater Management” means the avoidance, treatment and recycling of wastewater in industry, public authorities, institutions and private households.
Project Operation
The Integrated Wastewater Management Project is interactive, multidisciplinary and has three major components:
The transfer and application of appropriate and practical know-how on environmentally sound wastewater management (not only technology)
The promotion of measures to expand and secure the market (demand) for ESWM
The strengthening of the SRC’s capacity for effective and sustainable delivery of technology-based know-how and services.
The project has established collaboration with wastewater producers in the agro-industrial and municipal sectors to promote ESWM by means of: Wastewater auditing, analysing and characterizing of the wastewater; evaluation options for treating wastewater through the use of pilot/demonstration plants (Introduction of anaerobic technology). Also optimizing, monitoring and controlling various wastewater management facilities.
Legislation and Regulations
There are at least fifty existing statutes that relate in one way or another to environmental management and protection. In fact the existing legislation is so widespread and fragmented that very few people in Jamaica have a comprehensive knowledge and understanding of current environmental legislation and regulation.
With regard to wastewater management the most important statutes are:
The Natural Resources Conservation Authority Act (NRCA Act) of 1991, which established the NRCA as an umbrella institution for the environment.
The Public Health Act 1974, amended in 1985. This Act is broadly similar to the former British Public Health Acts. Its main purpose is the protection of public health through the control of communicable diseases, public hygiene, abatement of nuisances, collection and disposal of garbage and pollution control.
The National Water Commission Act 1963, amended in 1965, 1973 and 1980. The 1980 revision of this act established the NWC with the statutory responsibility for public water supply systems and public sewerage and sewage treatment systems.
The Underground Water Control Law, 1959, which established the UWA with powers to regulate, control and conserve underwater resources.
The Water Resources Act, 1995. It provides for the establishment of a Water Resources Authority which will ultimately take over the responsibility of UWA for the proper management of water resources.
With respect to the “numbers” presented in the above table, attaining such standards with the current expertise and infrastructure would be quite an achievement. Currently there is no economic incentive policy framework to assist environmental projects to establish modern treatment systems or to upgrade existing ones. Most of the treatment plants in Jamaica are over 25 years old and were not designed for nutrient removal and most have outlived their design capacity.
PARAMETRES
UNITS
INDUSTRIAL
SEWAGE
BOD5
mg/l
30
20
COD
mg/l
100
100
TSS
mg/l
15
20
Phosphates
mg/l
5
4
Nitrates (as nitrogen)
mg/l
5
10
pH
-
6.5-8.5
6-9
Oil and Grease
Kg/1000kg
0.1
-
Faecal Coliform
MPN
-
200/100ml
THE WAY FORWARD
Economic incentives put in place by the government to fund wastewater management projects
Implementation of appropriate technology (e.g. Anaerobic Technology) to address wastewater treatment in the local context.
More concerted effort and approach with strategic partnership between:
Close-Up
WASTEWATER TREATMENT IN JAMAICA
Facts on Jamaica
Geographical Location
Jamaica is the third largest island in the Caribbean, measuring 233km in length and 80 km wide. It is situated 145km south of Cuba at latitude 280. Over half of the island is over 300m above sea level, the Blue Mountain peak being the highest point (2256m) on the island. Over 120 rivers are/were found on the island. Jamaica is a tropical island with marginal annual temperature variations. The hurricane season extends from June to November.
Population
There are over 2.5 million people mainly centred around urban centres. The two major centres are Kingston ( capital of Jamaica) and Montego Bay. There are two international airports one in each of the two cities. Kingston and its immediate surroundings account for over half of a million people.
Industry
Tourism is the main source of foreign exchange, followed by bauxite and agriculture. The country exports around 1 billion tons per annum of bauxite making it the world’s third largest exporter of this raw material. Agriculture contributes only about 9% to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Political
Jamaica has a two party democratic system (Westminster Model) of government, an election is constitutionally due every five (5) years.
Environmental Issues affecting Jamaica
Waste/Wastewater Production/Generation
Wastewater Management in Jamaica
The GTZ GmbH in collaboration with the SRC carried out a study on wastewater management in Jamaica that resulted in the following findings:
Wastewater Traetment and Disposal in Jamaica
The domestic sewage generated across the island is handled in the following ways:
Industrial wastewater producers especially agro-processing industries to date, have partial or no treatment facilities in place to treat their waste. Agro-processing is one of the largest sources of wastewater generation in Jamaica. Most of our hotels treat their wastewater via decentralized units (Package Plants). Most of these package plants are not being run/operated and maintained properly due to the fact that the operators lack the necessary skills to carry out such a task.
Solid waste disposal is also improperly done, unsorted waste is dumped on landfills that are poorly managed and poorly designed. Quite a few of these landfills were condemned and were ordered closed.
Treatment Systems in Jamaica
In Jamaica there is a wide variety of waste treatment systems (technologies) in operation. Most of these systems are between 20 – 30 years old which makes most of them non-functional in terms of their design capacity. There are approximately 150 such systems in Jamaica which include:
The application of anaerobic technology in Jamaica is not well established. The past twenty years have seen the introduction of the Bio-digester units for the treatment or partial treatment of mostly farm waste. This particular method of treatment has not “taken-off” as expected due to the major problem of obtaining private financing for these projects. The application of the anaerobic technology for the treatment of wastewater generated from agro-processing was introduced to Jamaica through the Integrated Wastewater Management Project. This introduction includes pilot plant studies and the operation of the first demonstration scale (500 m3 UASB reactor- 1997/98) operation on sugar wastewater which resulted in COD reduction of over 70%. The anaerobic technology is favourable for the Jamaican situation due to the fact that these systems cost a lot less to operate and maintain than the anaerobic system and produce of biogas, which is valuable source of energy.
Scientific Research Council’s (SRC’s) Involvement
Under the sponsorship of the Government of Jamaica and Germany, the Scientific Research Council together with the Germany Agency for Technical Co-operation (GTZ) have implemented the Integrated Wastewater Management Project (IWMP).
Purpose
The project aims to establish Environmentally Sound Wastewater Management (ESWM) in Jamaica in order to significantly reduce the severe impacts which discharges of wastewater from point sources are having on economically important natural resources and eco-systems. The term “Wastewater Management” means the avoidance, treatment and recycling of wastewater in industry, public authorities, institutions and private households.
Project Operation
The Integrated Wastewater Management Project is interactive, multidisciplinary and has three major components:
The project has established collaboration with wastewater producers in the agro-industrial and municipal sectors to promote ESWM by means of: Wastewater auditing, analysing and characterizing of the wastewater; evaluation options for treating wastewater through the use of pilot/demonstration plants (Introduction of anaerobic technology). Also optimizing, monitoring and controlling various wastewater management facilities.
Legislation and Regulations
There are at least fifty existing statutes that relate in one way or another to environmental management and protection. In fact the existing legislation is so widespread and fragmented that very few people in Jamaica have a comprehensive knowledge and understanding of current environmental legislation and regulation.
With regard to wastewater management the most important statutes are:
THE WAY FORWARD