Civil engineer proposed reuse of wastewater for water scarcity in Negril
Civil engineer, Dick Hooijschuur, has proposed two potential solutions for the water scarcity in Negril, Jamaica – reuse of wastewater and desalination.
What is wastewater? Wastewater, also known as sewage, is polluted water that comes from human activities and rainwater runoff. It can include substances like: human waste, food scraps, oils, soaps, and chemicals.
Jamaica is labeled “The Land of Wood and Water” — so why on earth are we resorting to such drastic measures just to secure water of acceptable quality?
Or is this just another business venture for Dick Hooijschuur?
**Reuse of Wastewater**
Reusing wastewater is suggested as a solution. Hooijschuur elaborated that this method tends to produce water of better quality than Jamaica’s current potable water treatment methods. However, he conceded that using treated sewage water can be a controversial topic.
Having recently completed a wastewater reuse project in The Philippines, Hooijschuur will be the project manager for a potable water reuse plant in Singapore. Singapore currently garners 40% of its freshwater from reclaimed water. Wastewater reuse is seen as a potential solution for Negril unless the Jamaican public has reservations regarding such measures.
Hooijschuur proposes Norman Manley Beach Park be used for construction of a desalination plant.
**Desalination** has also been suggested.
Desalination involves removing salt from seawater to make it potable. While traditionally seen as an expensive and energy-intensive process, technological advancements and a decline in solar energy costs may have rendered it a viable option for Jamaica now. The cost of desalinated water is around US$1 per cubic metre, which Hooijschuur suggests could be drastically reduced further if the desalination plants are powered by solar energy.
He recommended the Norman Manley Beach Park as the site for constructing a desalination plant. According to Jamaica Observer, Hooijschuur suggested that a desalination plant could be constructed on the underutilised Norman Manley Beach Park, which has become an eyesore in the town. Nevertheless, during the opening of the ‘Welcome to Negril’ sign in 2022, Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett said the park is slated to be transformed into a Harmony Park-like public access facility that will provide a much-needed green space for recreational activities. The park has been closed to the public since 2014.
“The reclaimed water is of a higher purity than our drinking water here in Jamaica. It is a very sensitive topic. In some communities in the United States they talk about ‘all from toilet to tap’ but the technology, trust me, is there. Are we ready to accept that? That is a different thing. I can’t speak to that [but] I am ready to take on that challenge,” stated Hooijschuur.