Dr. Kevin Brown (left), President, University of Technology, Jamaica and Mr. Guy Yasur, Chief Executive Officer, Miya Water Jamaica Limited, display a folder containing a signed copy of a contract between both organizations for the provision of specialized water efficiency services at UTech, Jamaica. Discussions on the contract agreement was advanced at a courtesy call on Monday, March 2, 2026, in the President’s Conference Room at the university’s, Papine Campus. The contract was officially signed on February 20, 2026.
The University of Technology, Jamaica, and Miya Water Jamaica Limited have entered into an agreement to deliver e specialized water efficiency services at the university. Executives from both organizations met on Monday, March 2, 2026, at the UTech, Jamaica, Papine Campus to discuss kickoff initiatives for the project, which is now underway following the February 20 contract signing.
The contract formally established a Shared Savings Agreement (SSA) under which Miya Water Jamaica Limited will design, finance, and implement a comprehensive water efficiency programme across the university’s Papine Campus.
Dr. Kevin Brown, President of the University of Technology, Jamaica, underscored the value of the strategic partnership, noting that it marks a major step toward transforming the campus into a sustainable space. “This partnership represents a powerful alignment between sustainability, innovation, and education,” Dr. Brown stated. “Beyond water conservation, this initiative will provide invaluable practical experience for our students and position the university as a leader in sustainable infrastructure,” he added.
The project will be implemented in four phases over three years. Outlining the preliminary processes in the initiative, Mr. Gonçalo Delgado, Chief Operating Officer, MiyaWaterJamaica Limited, noted: “We first establish a baseline to understand the system and plan before moving into full operation—this is our standard methodology globally.” This baseline assessment looks at water consumption patterns and billing history at UTech, Ja and will serve as a parameter for measuring achieved savings throughout the four-phase three-year engagement. According to the agreement, the value of the total investment will be recovered exclusively through verified savings on water consumption.
Phase I, the pressure management and hydraulic sectorization stage, focuses on the centralization of water distribution systems into smaller, manageable zones. It will facilitate the installation of pressure-reducing valves (PRVs) and the implementation of automated control systems. Phase II, the leak detection and correction phase, will target the identification and repair of leaks across the system through the use of advanced technologies such as acoustic sensors, correlators, and infrared thermography. Phase III, the consumption device optimization stage, will see the improvement of water usage efficiency at consumption points. This will result in the upgrading and replacing of plumbing fixtures such as faucets, showerheads, and toilets with water-efficient models. The final stage, the operational and Sustainability Measures phase,will see the establishment of maintenance programmes to ensure long-term sustainability of the improvements.
Leaders of the University of Technology, Jamaica and Miya Water Limited, Jamaica, share a photo moment during a courtesy meeting in the President’s Conference Room on Monday, March 2, 2026, at UTech, Jamaica, Papine Campus. The group met to discuss kickoff plans for the water company to provide specialized water efficiency services to the university following the signing of an agreement on February 20, 2026. Seen here (l-r) are Mr. Gonçalo Delgado, Chief Operating Officer, Miya Water Jamaica Limited, Professor Garfield Young, Vice President and Chief Operations and Projects Officer, UTech, Jamaica, Dr. Kevin Brown, President, UTech, Jamaica, along with Miya Water Jamaica Limited’s Mr. Guy Yasur, Chief Executive Officer and Miss Katherine Paleracio, Project Manager.
Mr. Guy Yasur, Chief Executive Officer, MiyaWaterJamaica Limited, noted that the initiative represents Miya’s first project within an educational institution in Jamaica. “I’m very proud that UTech is the first university we are working with,” said Mr. Yasur, adding, “We’ve been on the island for almost 10 years…we are super excited and super proud of what we are doing here and to take it forward to places like this (UTech, Ja) which combine education, environment and sustainability.” He reaffirmed the company’s commitment to delivering measurable improvements in water management on the island, noting, “This is the vision.”
A central feature of the agreement is its strong emphasis on student involvement and capacity building. UTech, Ja students enrolled in engineering, GIS, construction management, and related disciplines, will actively participate in the project through structured training and knowledge transfer initiatives. Mr. Yasur noted that opportunities for internships and future employment are possible offshoots of the engagement. He indicated that the partnership could further serve as a talent pipeline for future large-scale projects, including a proposed island-wide water loss reduction initiative that could span over a decade and require significant technical expertise.
“This is more than a project—it is the foundation for long-term collaboration, innovation, and national development,” Yasur said.
Professor Garfield Young, Vice President and Chief Operations and Projects Officer at UTech, Jamaica, noted, “We have already identified a group of final year Land Surveying and Geographic Information System (GIS) students who are using GIS to map pipe networks. They have switched their research to merge it with what’s happening here.” He stated that the working group from UTech, Ja and Miya Water Jamaica Limited will meet bi-weekly to share updates on the progress of the work done.
Contact:
Michelle Beckford (Mrs.)
Corporate Communications Manager
University of Technology, Jamaica
Telephone: (876) 970-5299
Email: [email protected]
