The National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) has indicated that it is monitoring the situation in  Ewarton, St. Catherine, following an effluent spill at the effluent holding pond, operated by U C Rusal.

Rusal explained yesterday that, subsequent to continuous rains since last week, there was a spill via the spillway of the effluent holding pond at the Ewarton works plant, leading to the Old John gully.

As a result, areas in the vicinity of Byndloss and the Charlemont foot bridge were affected.

In a statement today, NEPA said it is aware of the spillage, and that the agency instructed Rusal to activate the early warning protocol and advise the stakeholders, including the Ministry of Health, that would be impacted.
NEPA said the early monitoring team, consisting of representatives from the agency, the Jamaica  Bauxite Institute, the Water Resources Authority, and Windalco, have been closely monitoring the situation, to ensure compliance to the early warning protocol.

It said the team will continue to do so in the coming days.

Members of the public are being encouraged to heed the advisory to avoid use of the water, until further notice.