Abstract:

Roadside entombments remain critical non-municipal water sources in rural Jamaica, serving both residents and commercial operators who harness water for resale. This study integrates findings from a seasonal descriptive analysis conducted prior to Hurricane Melissa with post-hurricane water quality assessments in Craig Hill and Cozy Nook. Pre-hurricane data revealed consistent microbial contamination across seasons, with total coliforms detected in 100% of samples, while physiochemical parameters such as pH and total dissolved solids (TDS) remained within national limits. Seasonal variation showed higher microbial loads during wet months, reflecting increased runoff and pathogen transport. Post-hurricane results demonstrated elevated heterotrophic plate counts and a significant increase in TDS in Craig Hill, suggesting contamination from soil erosion and infrastructural disruption. Together, these findings underscore the chronic vulnerability of rural water supplies to microbial contamination and their acute susceptibility to disaster impacts. The study aimed to assess the seasonal and post-hurricane variations in the quality and safety of non-municipal drinking water sources in East Rural St. Andrew, Jamaica (Craig Hill and Cozy Nook).The findings highlights the urgent need for a national water governance policy that includes the management of non-municipal water sources, and other policy reform which includes health education that will safeguard public health and advance Jamaica’s progress toward achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 6 by the year 2030.

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