Fri | Jan 2, 2026

Nature to the rescue in Upper Rock Spring

Published:Saturday | April 20, 2013 | 12:00 AM
Pause
Thirteen-year-old Alnando Cassanova (foreground) and other youngsters from Upper Rock Spring in Hanover use their bicycles to make the two-mile trek daily to Thatch Walk Spring to fetch drinking water.-Photos by Claudia Gardner
Anthony Clarke, 19, of Upper Rock Spring, collects water from the Thatch Walk Spring. A length of bamboo split in half serves as a funnel for channelling the crystal-clear spring water to containers.
Sixty-six-year-old Wilfred Stoddart and his donkey transport drinking water from Thatch Walk Spring to his home in Upper Rock Spring. Stoddart says he has been drinking from the spring all his life.
1
2
3

Claudia Gardner, Assignment Coordinator

WESTERN BUREAU:Residents of Upper Rock Spring in Hanover are giving thanks to mother nature for Thatch Walk Spring, their sole lifeline, supplying water to the community.

Residents of Upper Rock Spring say the area has been without piped water since the 2004 passing of Hurricane Ivan, which destroyed a catchment tank and the pump in neighbouring Kendal, from which water was supplied to the community.

Since then, Thatch Walk Spring has supplied the entire community, which numbers just under 1,000, with drinking water. The spring, which is approximately two miles away from the nearest household, has never run dry and always 'rescues' the community in times of water shortage.

LIFE-SAVER

"I come very often for water because sometimes the older people want water and I carry two of dem here (these jugs) and sell dem for $50 for each jug," 19-year-old Anthony Clarke told Western Focus, pointing to his two water containers. "But sometimes, I don't even charge the old people. I only charge the young ones.

"If this water neva deh here, mi no know how we would manage. We would have to go to a pump house way over in Jerusalem Mountain (in Westmoreland), about five miles away, and we would have to go up some long hills, too. It takes up a lot of energy, so you have to be strong and fit to do this, so you have to eat good food and drink good things," Clarke said.

Sixty-six-year-old Wilfred Stoddart told Western Focus during a visit to the site that he used the spring water for drinking and cooking purposes but harvested rainwater for other household chores.

"I drink this water all my life and I have never had any sickness from it. We don't have to boil it. I know that spring from boy days coming up. Water is always there," he said. "It has never been dry. The spring help us out great. Sometimes you even spend an hour there in order to get your containers full because of the amount of people that are there.

"Sometimes, over 20 people meet up there one time. The other day, I went down there with my donkey and the amount of people down there, I had to just full two (of four) jugs and leave. Sometimes I have to say God good to we because if it dry up, we have nowhere to turn to," Stoddart said.

STORAGE TANK PLANS

Hanover Parish Coun-cillor Anthony Walker, of the Cauldwell Division in which Upper Rock Spring is located, told Western Focus that there were council plans to harness the water from Thatch Walk by constructing a storage tank at the site by year end. It would be treated and pumped to the households in Rock Spring. He said the owner of the property granted permission for the project to be undertaken there.

"It has always been a reserve or a back-up source for the community during the drought season when we don't have sufficient water in the pumping station. It is reliable. It is at least 85 per cent pure. It comes out of the limestone, and I am happy with that," he said.

"The Hanover Health Department has tested the water at Thatch Walk and has forwarded their findings. They say once the water is treated, it would be perfect for consumption," he added.