NWC commences procurement process to replace damaged motor at Spring Village facility

The confirmation comes days after the initial disruption began on Friday, August 31, leaving thousands of residents without piped water during an already severe drought affecting the island.

According to information provided to Old Harbour News, officials are now in the process of procuring a replacement motor and therefore cannot provide a definitive timeline for restoration.

This development represents a further setback from earlier projections. The NWC's initial alert on Friday offered residents hope that repairs were underway, with service expected to be restored by 3:00 p.m. on Saturday. However, Ann Bolt, community relations manager at the NWC, later walked back that timeline, indicating that assessments were still ongoing.

"The maintenance team is still carrying out their assessment," Bolt had stated on Saturday afternoon.

The damaged motor at the facility has now rendered the plant completely inoperable, and the procurement process for a replacement means residents will face an extended period without water service.

Communities Affected

The disruption impacts a wide swath of communities including Bushy Park, Spring Village, Island Farm, Nightingale Groove, Five Acres, Round Wood, High House, Lloyd's Pen, Rock Stone, Gutters and sections of Church Pen. Many residents in these areas rely exclusively on the facility for their daily water needs.

The situation has been particularly challenging for larger households. One NWC customer told Old Harbour News she was down to her last few litres of water in her tank serving her six-member family.

Adding to Drought Pressures

The facility's failure compounds existing difficulties from a severe drought that has prompted the government to ramp up emergency water trucking to drought-stricken communities across the island.

Residents in the affected areas report they have yet to receive any trucked water at the time of publication, though the NWC has previously indicated such deliveries would be arranged.

This incident mirrors a similar mechanical breakdown at the Spring Village pump station in May 2026, which left thousands without water for approximately one month.

NWC Response

The NWC has apologized for the inconvenience and is urging customers to conserve their stored water. However, with the facility now officially out of commission and the procurement process for the replacement motor underway, the commission has been unable to provide a definitive timeline for restoration.

The uncertainty surrounding the Spring Village repair adds to the strain on residents who have been without piped water for nearly four days now, with no clear end in sight.