Sewage nightmare

THE National Water Commission (NWC) says work is now underway to resolve the ongoing sewage problem along Collie Smith Drive in Trench Town, St Andrew, where residents and business owners continue to complain about the persistent stench.

Acting corporate public relations manager at the NWC, Delano Williams, said teams have been actively responding to the issue, and on April 26, crews cleared debris from several manholes above 7th Street and returned on April 30 to address recurring overflows.

“Additionally, emergency works are now underway by a contractor to replace a section of the 32-inch upper transmission main along First Street,” said Williams.

He also noted that an operation began on Sunday, May 3, to further address a suspected blockage in a gully above 7th street to ensure that the sewage issue was thoroughly handled.

“Increased incidents of overflows have been observed in the area, largely linked to ongoing construction activity, which can result in manhole dislocations and debris entering the system,” Williams said.

The update comes as complaints of consistent pooling and overflowing of sewage in front of homes and businesses in the community were pointed out to a Jamaica Observer team during a visit last week.

At the time, the doors to several businesses along Collie Smith Drive were shut as owners explained that they could not continue to operate within the vicinity of the waste water. The business owners said the situation has persisted for months and gets worse every time it rains.

“Business slow bad! The messy water affect us, and my customers that usually come, them say them cannot stomach them things here. The situation really bad,” said business owner Stacy-Ann Jones.

She highlighted an incident some weeks ago when heavy rains almost led to her establishment becoming flooded by the contaminated water. She explained that it was her quick intervention that prevented the débâcle.

“This stay like this for a good while now. From they dig up the road, the messy water has been gathering up right here like this,” Jones said as she pointed to the green water that steadily streamed by her business.

Under the Government’s $45-billion Shared Prosperity through Accelerated Improvement to the Road Network (SPARK) programme, Collie Smith Drive has been undergoing reconstruction since August 2025.

The use of heavy machinery to dig up the asphalt was initially welcomed by the Trench Town community, but has since become the source of discomfort for many.

As the road remains under construction, residents say that the old sewage pipes that are succumbing to the pressure of a growing population became exposed during the operation. Since then, they say the sewage has become a looming health hazard.

“It’s been like that for two months now. We can’t open the shop, and the kids are affected because they can’t even walk there, because God forbid somebody drop inna that. When the sewage rise, it’s actually up on the sidewalk. So business close for about two months now, because nobody nah come here so,” said another business owner, who identified herself only as Felicia.

She added that because of the prolonged closure, she has been struggling financially to maintain her family.

Sharing similar sentiments was the owner of Pon di Corna, Maud Walker, who also noted that business was often interrupted by the sewage that, she said, sometimes floods her establishment.

“I want them to hurry up and fix it and make the road clear, because normally people would stop and buy something but now [they] can’t drive over here. Furthermore, if health inspectors come and see it and say that it’s not healthy, then you’ll have to close. So we can’t sit down in it. We just have to close,” she said.

Tedean Atterbury said that she made a formal complaint to the NWC on April 14 about the issue, and she has yet to have any relief.

“It affects children, people pickney sick, mi sister sick, my aunty was sick, and we have to be wondering if it’s because of the nasty water. Mosquito issues are there too. Remember say the road dig up, so it’s creating swamps that they are breeding up in. It’s terrible out there,” she said.

Tour guide Douney Ellis, who works at the tourist attraction ‘Culture Yard’ in Trench Town — known for producing reggae legends like Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, and Bunny Wailer — said both the prolonged road construction and sewage problem have been bad for business.

“Majority of our tourists take Collie Smith Drive to come here, so now that that road is out, they don’t know where to turn, because that’s the main way that they know. There’s a lady up the road where we usually support her with her bar, where we carry the tourists for them to drink, because some of them want to drink out on the road. We can’t go out there anymore because of the sewage,” said Ellis.

But owner of Trending Cakes Donnette Dowe told the Observer that while her small café was affected by the issue, she has seen work being done over time and understands that the process may be lengthy.

Dowe said she did not have a complaint, but was hoping that she could see more commitment to fixing the problem sooner.

“NWC, they are working, because they came the other day. Yes, they were to start the work about two to three weeks ago, I thought it would’ve started, but I haven’t seen them. So start, man, if it’s even to fix the sewage water, do something where the water can be channelled through, because it’s settling, and those things cause mosquitoes. But we still have to wait,” said Dowe.

National Water Commission workers are seen in Trench Town on Tuesday, May 5 working on sewer pipes suspected to be causing an overflow of effluent along Collie Smith Drive. (Photo: Renae Osbourne)

A makeshift bridge placed by residents in Trench Town to cross this flow of sewage water. (Photo: Joseph Wellington)

National Water Commission sewer pipes are seen in Trench Town as work continues to correct a long-running overflow of effluent. (Photo: Joseph Wellington)

Culture Yard tour guide Douney Ellis shows sections of Collie Smith Drive in Trench Town.with pools of sewage settling in front of homes and businesses on Tuesday, April 28. (Photo: Joseph Wellington)