HUMAN AND SOCIAL BIOLOGY

THE EFFECTS OF ROAD CONSTRUCTION ON THE PEOPLE RESIDING IN

PORTLAND

Candidate Name: R. Brown

Candidate Number: 9999999
Date of Submission: May 18, 2023
School: Happy Grove High School
Territory: Jamaica
 Table of Contents

Contents Pages
Background Information 1
Problem Statement 1
Research Objective 1
Methodology 2
Presentation of Data 3-4
Analysis and Interpretation of Data 5
Conclusion 6
Recommendation 6
Reflection 6
 Background Information

Since road construction began in the parish of Portland, numerous communities have
reported water supply disruptions. On March 6, 2023, residents of the Fairy Hill and Boston
communities in Eastern Portland blocked the roads of the community to protest the prolonged
absence of piped water in their community. Two days after, on March 8, 2023, residents of
Drapers, San San and Zion Hill also blocked the roads in their communities to express their
dissatisfaction with the water situation, with residents reporting to have been without water for
over eight weeks prior to the strike. The water issue has disrupted the livelihood of many
residents within the Eastern communities, many of which have difficulty finding water for basic
household purposes and personal hygiene. This is especially alarming given the increase in heat
waves, decreased rainfall, and the abundance of dust particles in the air in these communities.
There is a high probability that the road construction being carried out in these communities is
the source of the water disruptions seen and is amplifying the already abhorrent situation.

Problem Statement
Road construction is causing water supply disruptions in the households of persons living in
Portland.

Research Objective
To investigate if road construction is causing the water supply disruption in the households of
persons residing in Portland.
 Methodology

In conducting this assessment, questionnaires were issued to residents in the various

communities of Eastern Portland. The communities surveyed include Long Bay, Fair Prospect,
Castle, Boston, Fairy Hill, Zion Hill, San San, Drapers, Clear Spring, and Folly Road. One
hundred (100) questionnaires were issued in total, with each community being issued ten (10)
questionnaires. Each questionnaire contained ten (10) questions to accurately assess the intensity
of the water disruption situation. A questionnaire was used because it allows for quick and easy
collection and analysis of the information presented. It also allows for a higher participation rate
in these communities when compared to other data collection methods like interviews and
Google forms. One limitation of this data collection method is that the distribution time is
relatively slow.
 Presentation of Data

Table Showing How Frequently Water Supplies Have Been Disrupted in The
Communities of Eastern Portland Since Road Construction Began

Community Never Rarely Sometimes Often Very Often

Long Bay 2 0 3 2 3
Fair Prospect 3 2 1 3 1
Castle 2 3 2 2 1
Boston 0 0 1 2 7
Fairy Hill 1 1 0 3 5
Zion Hill 0 1 0 4 5
Drapers 0 0 0 2 8
San San 0 1 2 1 6
Clear Spring 1 1 3 2 3
Folly 0 2 2 3 3
Total 9 11 14 24 42

Bar Chart Showing number of residents whom had

prolonged disruptions prior to the beginning of road
construction in their communities
12
10
8
6
4
2
0

Yes No
Pie Chart Showing How Long Residents Have
Been Without Water

5%
11% 0-3 days
4-7 days
15% 1-2 weeks
53%
3-4 weeks

16% 5 or more weeks

 Analysis and Interpretation of Data

Persons in Eastern Portland have been struggling with water disruptions since the start of
the road construction project. They must decide between using their water rations to either bathe
or to wash their clothes. Numerous farmers in the surrounding areas must distribute the little that
they have to their livestock and crops to make a living, sometimes to expense of their own health
and hygiene. Although most resident’s livelihoods are at stake, most cannot afford the hefty fees
that water trucks require to provide them with their water necessity. What most citizens find
especially infuriating is the frequent number of burst pipes that are seen throughout the
communities that many describe as a mockery to their needs.
Between the constant digging up and bursting of the pipelines, most residents have
reported frequent disruptions in their water connectivity. Forty-two (42) out of the One Hundred
(100) residents surveyed have answered that the frequency at which these water connection
issues are happening very often. Meanwhile, only nine (9) declared that they have never had
water connection issues since the beginning of road construction in their communities.
Most residents also stated that these water woes were not present prior to when the road
work project began. Even more concerning, is that 54% of the residents that completed the
questionnaire have been without water for more than a staggering 5 weeks. Majority of which
must resort to travelling far distances to rivers and other communities that have access to a
standpipe with running water to carry out basic needs.
 Conclusion

It can be concluded based on the research done that road construction is causing water
supply disruptions in the households of persons living in Portland. Most residents have been
without water for over 5 weeks and those with water are having frequent disconnections.

Recommendation
It is recommended that Burst pipes should be reported to the road workers as soon as they are
spotted so that they can be restored as soon as possible. Also, residents can try to get water
trucked to their communities whenever they can afford it.

Reflection
While conducting this research, I have learnt that road construction has been the driving
force for the water disruption issues seen in several communities in the parish of Portland. I also
learnt that most residents in eastern Portland have not been able to carry out basic daily tasks
since road construction began. Now I understand why the residents were so outraged and
resorted to blocking the roads in order to draw attention to the situation. This project could be
improved by also gathering information from the road workers to better assess the situation. One
social impact that could arise if this issue is not solved is that increasing number of residents will
not have sufficient water to carry out daily tasks and one economical impact is that business
owners may have to close their establishments in the areas due to health concerns.
 Bibliography

Davis, G. (2023a, March 6). East Portland residents mount roadblocks to protest bad roads, lack
of water. News | Jamaica Gleaner. https://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/news/20230306/east-
portland-residents-mount-roadblocks-protest-bad-roads-lack-water

Davis, G. (2023b, May 8). East Portland residents again block roads to press demand for water.
News | Jamaica Gleaner. https://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/news/20230508/east-portland-
residents-again-block-roads-press-demand-water

Drought forces water disruptions for more than 50 Portland communities. News | Jamaica
Gleaner. (2023, May 13). https://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/news/20230513/drought-
forces-water-disruptions-more-50-portland-communities

Potter, R. (2023, May 8). Residents of drapers, Portland protest lack of water, poor road
conditions. http://www.radiojamaicanewsonline.com.
http://radiojamaicanewsonline.com/local/residents-of-drapers-portland-protest-lack-of-
water-poor-road-conditions
 Appendix
Water Disruption Questionnaire Distributed to the Residents of East Portland

1. Which community do you reside in?

Long Bay
Fair Prospect
Castle
Boston
Fairy Hill
Zion Hill
Drapers
San San
Clear Spring
Folly

2. Have you been experiencing water supply disruptions in your

community?

Yes
No

3. If yes, how long have you been without water?

0-3 days
4-7 days
1-2 weeks
3-4 weeks
5 or more weeks
4. Have you ever had these prolonged disruptions to your water disruption
prior to the beginning of road construction?

Yes
No

5. How has the water disruption been affecting you? Tick all that apply

Unable to perform personal hygiene (bathe, brush teeth, etc)

Unable to cook
Unable to wash (clothes, plate, car)
Unable to provide water for plants and animals (crops, livestock, pets,
shrubs)
Unable to get drinking water
Other, please specify

6. How frequently has your water supply been disrupted since road
construction began?
Never
Rarely
Sometimes
Often
Very Often
7. How often do you see burst pipes in your community?

Never
Rarely
Sometimes
Often
Very Often
8. How often do water trucks visit your community?

Never
Rarely
Sometimes
Often
Very Often

9. When there is no piped water in the community, is there another place

you can access clean water?

Yes
No

10. If yes, what water source is accessible?

River
Well
Tank
Spring
Other, please specify