Jamaica

General Information

Jamaica has established important policies and regulations for wastewater management, including the 2013 Wastewater and Sludge Regulations. However, challenges remain in enforcement, aging treatment plants, and limited financing options, resulting in untreated discharges that continue to affect Kingston Harbour and groundwater resources on which much of the population depends.

Through GEF CReW+, Jamaica advanced monitoring, policy development, financing, and reuse initiatives. The project enhanced the national IWWM database, improving data quality and accessibility for both internal monitoring and external reporting. It also prepared a concept paper and defined key elements for a National Policy on the Reuse of Treated Wastewater, providing a basis for integrating reuse into national planning processes.

To strengthen financial sustainability, CReW+ produced a business case promoting treated wastewater as a resource, outlining pathways for reuse in agriculture and industry while reducing pressure on freshwater supplies. In addition, Jamaica prepared a managed aquifer recharge (MAR) system for treated wastewater infiltration at Innswood WWTP, creating a pilot that can inform the application of innovative reuse technologies.

Together, these interventions contributed to strengthening Jamaica’s wastewater management framework, advancing practical solutions and policy instruments that can inform future investments and planning.