Several communities in Montego Bay and Hanover are currently without water.

The National Water Commis-sion (NWC) said this is because vandals have stolen the automatic cleaning machine at the Great River Treatment Plant.

It noted that this is making it difficult to remove debris from the plant.

The NWC said the facility is also strained as a result of turbid conditions brought about by recent rains.

The NWC said it is now cleaning the plant's intake manually but the disruption in the water supply will continue until the turbidity subsides. Customers serviced by the Great River Treatment Plant are being urged to store water.