PRESENTATION OF DATA

44% Females
Males
56%

Source: Field work,

Figure 1: Pie chart showing the percentages of male and female respondents

9|Page
Responses Number Percentage
9-14 2 8%
15-21 16 64%
22-27 3 12%
27 and over 4 16%
Total 25 100%
Source: Field work,
October 2017

Figure 2: Table showing respondents’ age groups

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 8%

Drought
Source Damaged
52% Contamination
40%

Source: Field work,

Figure 3: Pie chart showing responses for a possible reason for the frequent, long absences of

water

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 70%
60%
50%
Percentage of respondents

40%
30%
20%
10% Pipes not properly fixed
0%
de ke xe
d
dsli qua fi
La
n
rth rly
Ea ope
r
otp
sn
i pe
P
Possible causes for pipe breakage

Source: Field work,

Figure 4: Bar graph showing responses for possible causes of pipe breakage

Responses Number Percentage

Little or no water to drink 3 12%

Pressure to get water elsewhere 3 12%

Not enough water for domestic use 19 76%

Total 25 100%

Source: Field work,

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 October 2017

Figure 5: Table showing responses for the effects of poor water supply in the home

BAR GRAPH SHOWING POOR WATER SUPPLY’S EFFECT ON HEALTH

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 70%
60%
50%
Percentage of respondents

40%
30%
20%
10%
0% Eczema
on re a
ati su ze
m
dr es c
hy pr E
e d
D oo
bl
w
lo
d
an
gh
Hi
Poor water supply's effects on health

Source: Field work,

Figure 6: Bar graph showing poor water supply’s effect on health

INTERPRETATION AND ANALYSIS OF DATA

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 Through the data collected by the means of the questionnaires which were distributed in the

community of Evergreen, the researcher observed that poor water supply, is an issue of great

concern in the community and is not something that should be put off dealing with for any longer

but rather to be dealt with immediately.

Figure 1 shows that the female respondents were more than the male respondents, the female

respondents with fifty six percent (56%) =14/25 and the males at forty four percent (44%)

=11/25.

Figure 2 shows that based on the 25 questionnaires which were handed out, majority of the

respondents were from the 15-21 age group with sixty four percent (64%) =16/25; going down in

percentage from there is the 27 and over age group at sixteen percent (16%) =4/25, the 22-27 age

group with twelve persons 3/25 and then the 9-14 age group at eight percent (8%) =2/25.

Figure 3 displays that for the question “What is a possible reason for the frequent, long

absences of water?” the options ‘source damaged’, ‘drought’ and ‘contamination’ were given.

Starting from the least selected to the most popularly selected is- ‘contamination’ at eight percent

(8%) = 2/25, ‘source damaged’ at forty percent (40%) =10/25, and ‘drought’ at the highest with

fifty-two (52%) =13/25. In support of the idea that drought is the main reason for the frequent,

long absences of water in the community of Evergreen, an article was found in the Jamaica

Observer. The article was posted on the 23rd of July 2014, which is confirmation somewhat, that

this has been a problem affecting communities for quite some time. Below is an extract from the

article:

“Some climates, such as Jamaica's, have a seasonal pattern of rainfall. We have two rainy

seasons and in between there are dry periods. If these dry periods are longer than usual they

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 are described as droughts. In a small land mass like Jamaica a drought affects the entire area

of land. Therefore these annual droughts result in annual shortages of water throughout the

country with the attendant water restrictions, lock-offs and unavailability of potable water.”

Figure 4 displays the next question which dealt with cause. This question asked respondents

what they thought was a possible cause for pipe breakage. Most respondents chose the option

‘pipes not properly fixed’ which garnered a sixty-eight percent (68%) = 17/25. The option

‘landslide’ got the second highest at twenty percent (20%) = 5/25. The least selected option of

‘earthquake’ got twelve percent (12%) = 3/25.

In Figure 5, is a table showing the responses for the question which dealt with the effects of

poor water supply in the home. The option ‘Not enough water for domestic use’ was the most

selected one at seventy-six percent (76%) = 19/25. the next two options ‘little or no water to

drink’ and ‘pressure to get water elsewhere’ being left at a tie of twelve percent (12%) = 3/25 for

each option respectively. The excerpt below was found in the Jamaica Observer and was posted

on April 9, 2014 and focuses on the water shortage which is experienced widely, it goes by the

heading- ‘Poor Water Supply Unacceptable’.

At least once a year, and in some areas almost all year long, there is a water shortage. How

severe and how prolonged the shortage and lock-offs depend on where one lives. Ironically, in

the old days people ensured that they had water year-round by their own domestic catchment and

storage facilities. This self-reliant system has fallen into disrepair because people have been

encouraged to sign onto the national water supply system. Some people still have unused

catchment and storage facilities while experiencing water lock-offs.

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Jamaicans have been lulled into a false sense of security that the National Water Commission

will always be able to supply adequate amounts of water to everyone; if only it would improve

the efficiency of its operations. This is a fallacy because the problem starts with the absence of a

policy on water, regrettably because of complacency that there is enough rainfall and ground

water to serve the needs of the country well into the future.”

Figure 6, the final figure, shows a bar graph which holds data showing how the poor water

supply affects health. It can be observed from the bar graph that most respondents selected

‘dehydration’ as the most common effect that the poor water supply has on the residents’ health,

at sixty-eight percent (68%) = 17/25. The other two options ‘high blood pressure’ and ‘eczema’

at a tie of sixteen percent (16%) = 4/25 for each option respectively.

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 FINDINGS

Based on the data that was collected through the questionnaires which were distributed and

answered, the researcher observed numerous findings; some of these are stated below.

Finding #1: Drought is the main reason for the community’s frequent and long absence of

water, as acknowledged by 52% of the respondents.

Finding #2: The main cause for pipe breakages is because the pipes are not properly fixed as

acknowledged by 68% of the respondents.

Finding #3: Poor water supply affects the health of the residents mostly through dehydration

as is recognized by 68% of the respondents.

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