Hampstead Citizens' Association

Benevolent Society

The Hampstead Citizens’ Association Benevolent Society was registered on the fourteenth day of April 2004 as a Benevolent Society under the Friendly Societies Act of 1966. Since attaining legal status, the Society has made its mark within the Jamaican Society through the Development activities within the Hampstead Community. This Society has remained vibrant and displays a keen understanding of its Rules and the Act and Regulations under which it is governed.
 

Raymond Grant Vice
President of the Hampstead Citizens Association Benevolent Society

With the help of the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF) and the Department of Co-operatives and Friendly Societies, the Society has undertaken numerous projects; paramount of which is the upgrade of the community water supply systems and the rehabilitation of the Hampstead All Age School.

The Society accomplished this feat by sourcing water from a well that was close to the existing catchment tank. The Society had experienced some difficulties in leasing the land but prevailed when the owner agreed to donate the land to the Society shortly after the start of the project.

The Water Supply System Before Hampstead Intervention

The Hampstead water system was originally built sometime in 1959 to supply water to a select few houses via standpipes in the community. Population increase has rendered this system ineffective in meeting the potable water demands of the residents.

The catchment tank in the community has been pronounced defunct and the metres used by residents were outdated and as such they were issued a flat rate water bill of Three Hundred Dollars ($300.00) per month by the Parish Council.

The Hampstead Spring is entombed, where the water flows by gravity to a 5,700 litre settling tank, before flowing into a larger storage tank of 64,600 litres. The chlorination system consisted of a drip feed chlorinator adjacent to each tank. It is estimated that there are currently some two hundred (200) persons who were directly connected to the system.
 

Deficiencies in the System

•  The Chlorine building, which is constructed with zinc, was found to be in a deplorable state.\

•  Chlorinated water was overflowing in natural water, resulting in wasting of water and destruction of flora and fauna.

•  Pipes were leaking and badly in need of repairs.

•  No adequate storage tank was put in place.

The Society’s Prescription for the Problems

Faced with these deficiencies the Society embarked on various corrective actions.

• Construct an intake at Crawle Pond at an elevation that will permit water to flow by gravity to a new storage reservoir and filters

• Erect a filtration system consisting of two rapid gravity sand filters and an 112,500-litre bolted steel reservoir downstream of the Crawle Pond from which water will be gravity fed to the community of Hampstead.

• Install a tablet feed chlorination system on the inlet of the storage reservoir to allow for proper disinfection.

• Install approximately 4,700 metres of 100 mm diameter PVC distribution pipeline, 1300.00 metres of 50 mm diameter PVC pipeline and approximately 400 service connections.

• Interconnect the existing source with the new source in order to maximize on the amount of water availability.

Estimated population that will benefit is three thousand two hundred (3,200).


The Benevolent Society is also undertaking the refurbishing of the Hampstead All Age School. This venture is also being supported and funded by the European Union.  To date the Society has:

• Replaced school roof

• Replaced floors

• Painted the building.

The success of these two major projects rests on the Society’s collaboration with:

• Office of Utilities Regulation

• Water Resource Authority

• National Environment and Planning Agency

• Ministry of Health

• St. Mary Parish Council

• Social Development Commission

• Department of Co-operatives and Friendly Societies

• Jamaica Social Investment Fund.

To date the Society has received over four million dollars to fund these projects.


Impact of Water Supply and Sanitation Project on the Hampstead Community

• Adequate supply of quality water to over four hundred households.

• Training provided for both water supply and sanitation system maintenance.

• Children exposed to modern sanitary facilities.

• A healthier and Cleaner Community environment.

• Community awareness and participation in management of present and future projects.

• A vibrant Benevolent Society.

The Water Supply Project came to an end in November 2005 and the School Rehabilitation Project came to an end January 2006.