SEWAGE MANAGEMENT IN JAMAICA THE PAST, PRESENT AND THE FUTURE A PERSPECTIVE OF ENGINEERS, DESIGNERS AND ENVIRONMENTALISTS

1. History
1893 – 1960s
• 1893 – Construction of collection, conveyance and treatment systems in
Kingston
• 1960s – Start of construction of housing schemes needing centralized
sewage services
Kingston – one of the earliest cities in the New World to have constructed a
centralized, municipal collection, conveyance, treatment and disposal system.
This system served the Municipality of Kingston (demarcation) and sections of this
system are still in use.
The remaining sections of the City of Kingston were served by pit latrines and
soak-away pits.
The expansion of the City of Kingston create a demand for sewage capacity
leading to expansion of the system with the construction of the
1. Western Treatment Works in the 1930s
2. Greenwich Treatment Works in the 1960s
These facilities treatment modules consist of:
• Grit Chamber
• Primary Sedimentation Systems
• Sludge Digester
• Septage Collection
The level of treatment attained was primary.
1

2. In other parts of the island during this time there was no other municipal sewerage
system and package treatment systems could only be found in some of the hotels
dotting the coast.
Towards the end of the period a STP was built to serve a small section of the city
of Montego Bay. This was a Trickling Filter type Secondary Treatment Plant with
facility to receive septage.
1960s - 1997
1997 – Implementation of the new Sewage Regulation governing the construction,
operations and maintenance of sewage collection conveyance treatment and
disposal.
Policies and Regulations
• Regulation
• Town & Country Act (1958)
• NRCA Act (1996)
• Government Policies
Sewage Discharge Standards
• BOD
30 mg/l
• TSS
30 mg/l
• Faecal Coliform
1000 MPM
Main Players
1. Approval and Monitoring Agencies
• EHU/MOH
• NWC
2

3. • WRA
• NRCA
• Parish Councils
2. Developers
•
•
NHT
NWC
•
NHDC (HAJ)
•
Private Home Developers
•
Hotel Developers
•
MOH (Hospitals)
3. Engineering Services
• NWC
• Carib Engineering Ltd.
• Private Engineers and Engineering Companies
4. Contractors
• Private Entities
5. Operators
• NWC
• Hotel Owners and Operators
• MOH
Special Role of NWC
• Involved in all aspects of process except construction
• Set Policies, Regulation and Guidelines
3

4. • Only operator of domestic sewage systems
• Only operator/owner/constructors of large sewage treatment systems
• Only owner/operator of facilities for handling septage
• In the process of building /commissioning into service major urban
municipal systems
1. Negril
2. Montego Bay
3. Ocho Rios
The National Water Commission (NWC) operates some 50 sewage (wastewater)
treatment plants island wide. The types of sewage treatment facilities used include
oxidation ditch, activated sludge, waste stabilization pond and primary treatment.
Central sewerage facilities are located in Kingston and St. Andrew, South-east St.
Catherine (Portmore), Montego Bay in St. James, Ocho Rios in St. Ann, and Negril
in Westmoreland.
In addition, the NWC has assumed responsibility for several small sewerage
systems, which are associated with housing developments in various parts of the
country. Packaged sewage treatment plants are used to provide treatment of the
sewage collected in these small systems.
Of all the 50 sewage treatment facilities, only Greenwich (built in the 1960’s),
Western (built in the 1930’s) and the trickling filter systems were built by the
NWC or its forerunners. All the other facilities were built by various housing
developers and subsequently handed-over to the National Water Commission for
operation and maintenance.
4

5. Types and Location of facilities
(Please see attached map for locations)
Mechanised or ponding systems were the order of the day
1. Primary Sedimentation/Chlorination systems
2. Waste Stabilization Ponds
3. Aerated lagoon System
4. Trickling Filter System
5. Package Plants
6. Oxidation Ditches
7. Extended Aeration Systems
8. Contact Stabilization Systems
9. Proprietorial Package Plant Systems
Challenges
1. Lack of Governmental will in the implementation of policies or
understanding of the problem of sewage management
2. Monopoly of NWC in domestic sewage operation stifled the development of
sector
3. Lack of interest in O&M by NWC resulted in the deterioration/abandonment
of systems without replacement
4. Lack of investment within the system
5. Lack of proper and frequent monitoring of systems effluent allowed for the
deterioration of standards
6. Inability to force action from the NWC regarding O&M and Effluent
Discharge
7. Little or no agitation from Civil Society for changes
5

6. Status: 1997 – Present
1997 – Implementation of the new Sewage Regulation governing the construction,
operations and maintenance of sewage collection conveyance treatment and
disposal.
Policies and Regulations
• Regulation
No changes excepts for Sewage Regulations
• Government Policies***
o Provision of services for Industrial Needs
o Expansion/provision of services into high density areas
o Improvement in services to protect the environment
o Control industrial discharge
Sewage Discharge Standards
• BOD
20 mg/l
• TSS
20 mg/l
• Total nitrate
10 mg/l
• Total Phoshate
4 mg/l
• Faecal Coliform
100 MPM
Main Players
1. Approval and Monitoring Agencies
• EHU/MOH
• NEPA
• WRA
• Parish Councils
6

7. 2. Developers
•
•
NHT
NWC
•
MOH
•
NHDC (HAJ)
•
Private Home Developers
•
Hotel Developers
•
MOH (Hospitals)
3. Engineering Services
• NWC
• Carib Engineering Ltd.
• Private Engineers and Engineering Companies
4. Contractors
• Private Entities
5. Operators
• NWC
• Private Operators
o Rose Hall
o DNM Ltd
o White water
• Hotel Owners and Operators
• MOH
6. Others
• Environmentalist
• NGOs
7

8. • Community Based Organisations
• End Users
Type of Systems
1. Primary Sedimentation/Chlorination systems
2. Waste Stabilization Ponds
3. Reed Beds in various combinations
4. Biogas Digesters in combination with other treatment modules
5. Aerated lagoon System
6. Trickling Filter System
7. Package Plants
8. Oxidation Ditches
9. Extended Aeration Systems
10. Contact Stabilization Systems
11. Proprietorial Package Plant Systems
8

9. Maps & Locations
9

10. 10

11. KINGSTON & ST ANDREW
11

12. ST CATHERINE
12

13. PORT & SPANISH TOWN
SR
13

14. ST ANN & ST MARY
14

15. ST JAMES (MONTEGO BAY)
ST J A
15

16. WESTMORELAND (NEGRIL)
16

17. Changes from 1997 - Present
1. Tighter Environmental Laws, Standards & Regulation
2. Greater interest and scrutiny by interested parties (Environmentalist, end
users, etc,)
3. Breaking of monopoly
4. Introduction of new technologies and process especially aimed at
reduction in energy usage and small to medium systems (EHU, SRC)
o Special mention of Biogas Digester usage:
Industrial
Agricultural
Domestic
5. Increase in the pool of engineers, designers and equipment suppliers
6. Greater awareness of role to be played by NWC
7. Attempt at introduction of new energy sources for sewage treatment
8. Increase in the number of small systems constructed and in operation
9. Trend towards sewering of major urban centres by the NWC/GOJ
Role of NWC
1. Still the main player in the industry
2. Agitates for tariff increase
3. In the process of replacing/constructing sewage systems in major urban
centres
4. Plans to sewer major urban centre
5. Is inefficient in O&M with the resultant problems
6. Constructed the Soap Berry Waste Stabilization and Wetlands
7. Closed the Greenwich and Western Treatment Works
8. Increase sewerage within the Kingston Metropolis
17

18. 9. Commissioned into service major systems in:
i. Mo Bay
ii. Ocho Rios
iii. Negril
10. Plans the redirection of sewage from Portmore to Soapberry and
decommissioning of three major STPs in Portmore
11. Construction of sewerage system for Port Antonio
Role of other Operators
• Rose Hall
• DML
Role of other Players
1. NEPA
2. EHU
3. SRC
4. Developers
5. Environmentalist et al.
6. End Users
18

19. The Way Forward
The vision of Sewage management as an Industry, capable of being
a major driver in the economic wellbeing of the nation.
How?
Viewing each component of the industry as being able to produce a
profit or at least be self-sustaining.
NB
• Except for in the cases of sewering Urban Centres,
the capital costs for the systems are borne by the
end users and are paid at the front end of the deal.
• Users in urban centres with existing dwellings
would be expected to pay the capital costs via the
tariffs.
• The tariff being charged is payable by all end
users, even those who paid the Capital Cost in the
home purchase
• There are no provisions for Replacement Cost
which would become the responsibility of the
Owner who in the majority of cases is the NWC
i.e. Government of Jamaica i.e. the Taxpayer
• Utilization of by-products of the treatment process
does not affect tariff but will improve revenue
19

20. UTILIZATION OF PRODUCTS/BYPRODUCTS OF SEWAGE
TREATMENT FACILITY
Economic viability of:
•
•
•
•
Collection
Conveyance
Treatment
Reuse/Disposal
o Sale of products and by-products
Activated Sludge Process
Primary Treatment
Equalization Tank – Optional depending on size
Pump Station – Optional depending on topography and
powered by RENEWABLE ENERGY
Bar Screen
Grit Chamber - Grit to be washed with treated effluent,
disinfected and used for landfill cover or base material
for roads, etc.
Primary Clarifier - Inorganic material to be washed
with treated effluent, disinfected and used in the
Construction Industry
20

21. Secondary Treatment
`
Aeration Basin
Secondary Clarifier
Sludge Digester
Tertiary Treatment
Multiple methods of tertiary treatment
1. Lagoons with water lily (reaped and used in
animal feeds or manure)
2. Reed Beds with various types of utile reeds:
a. Nativa
b. Sorghum
Effluent Discharge
Multiple uses for end product:
1. Reuse for washing of by-products during Primary
Treatment
2. Cooling liquid in industries
3. Aquifer Recharge
4. Agricultural Irrigation
21

22. Sludge Digestion
Sludge Digester – Various manner of digestion with
different end products:
Drying Beds – After drying will be used as
manure in agriculture
`
Energy Conversion – Decreasing the
water content using hydraulic presses to
remove the water, burning the sludge in a
kiln and converting the heat energy to
electrical energy for:
1. Use in the treatment process
2. Sale of excess to National Grid
3. The inorganic slag which remains after
burning is to be used in landfills and
road base.
Utile Gas (methane) is produced and is also
usable as an energy source for the treatment
process and for sale
22

23. Earthen System
1. Reed Beds
23

24. 2. Tile Fields
24

25. 3. Polishing Ponds & Lagoons
25

26. 4. Biogas Digesters
26

27. Advantages
1. Used singularly as the secondary/tertiary module
2. Produce utile crops (Sativa Grass, Sorghum, etc.)
3. Gas production
4. Produce effluent of standards acceptable to the monitoring
agencies
5. Minimum O & M costs
6. Minimum replacement costs
Targeting energy efficiency
Who?
Driven by Investors, Engineers, Designers and Inventers of new
technologies
Main Problem
Cost of energy supply
Solutions
1. Design system without mechanised component
a. More applicable for small systems
2. Use energy efficient mechanical components
3. Use renewable energy sources
a. Wind
b. Solar
c. Biogas
d. Sludge to electricity conversion
27

28. WIND ENERGY
28

29. SOLAR ENERGY FOR INDUSTRIAL USAGE
29

30. 30

31. 31

32. The Economics of Sewage Management
Who Pays?
Capital Costs
• Housing Development (new)
o Capital Cost of system incorporated in the cost to home
buyers
• Existing Housing Scheme (Urban Sewering)
o NWC/GOJ
• Industrial and Trade Waste
o New Development
Developers/GOJ
o Existing Development
End Users/GOJ
Tariff
• Purpose of tariff
o O&M
Replacement of System after usefulness
• Who pays for replacement of systems when the tariff does not
include this component?
o NWC adds a cess for the replacement/repair of systems
32

33. o Is this extended to other service providers and if not, how
will the replacement of their system be financed?
Operation and Maintenance
Personnel and Training
• Adequate Personnel and training levels
O&M and equipment
• Modern, easily operated and safe equipment, PPE
Fines and Penalties
• Enforceable
Methodology of changing the paradigm shift
• Buy-in of all members of the sector including Developers, Design
Engineers, Operators, End Users and Environmentalists
• Education of the End Users
• Agitation of the Environmentalist
• Inspiration of Design Engineers
o Developing cheaper, more easily operated systems
• Investment of the Developers
• Increase in the pool of Designers and Engineers
33

34. 34