Policies and strategies
- The Water Sector Policy Paper of 1999 outlines the current situation and problems within the water sector, defines the objectives of the government to address the issues, and sets out the mode of implementation. To ensure that the policy is implemented effectively, strategies and action plans were developed in the 2004 Water Sector Policy. The basic tenet of the Water Sector Policy is to ensure universal access to potable water by 2010 and to sewer all major towns by 2020, as well as to remedy the infrastructural deficiencies in the provision of potable water and sewerage services.
- In 2005, a National Sanitation Policy for Jamaica was developed to improve the interrelationship among key players and utilize resources more efficiently. The policy identifies the stakeholders, defines their roles and responsibilities, and establishes a common vision, goals, objectives as well as broad strategies to achieve policy. It is still being negotiated and has yet to be adopted and implemented as a national policy by the government.
- A Rural Water Supply Master Plan, which was announced in 2008, is currently under elaboration to lay the foundation for taking potable water into all of rural Jamaica. This initiative is being implemented by the Rural Water Supply Company.
Institutions
- The Ministry of Water and Housing (MWH) is responsible for setting water and sanitation policies. It is also in charge of implementing programmes to provide potable water to all communities in Jamaica and ensuring that all housing developments meet required standards for sanitation.
- Various other ministries and agencies are directly or indirectly related to the water and sanitation sector: For example, while the Ministry of Education (MoE) has the responsibility to develop and implement policies and programmes for hygiene and sanitation education in schools, the Ministry of Health (MoH) is in charge of setting policies and programmes to promote hygiene and appropriate sanitation practices. The National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) determines and monitors environmental standards for water supply and sanitation. The management, protection, controlled allocation and use of Jamaica's water resources are responsibilities of the Water Resources Authority (WRA).
- The National Water Commission (NWC) is the main institution charged with the responsibility of providing potable water and wastewater services for the people of Jamaica.
- An autonomous agency, the Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR), regulates among others water and sanitation service provision. OUR approves tariffs and establishes targets for efficiency improvements.
