Basseterre, St. Kitts (SKNIS): The Government of St. Kitts and Nevis is moving ahead with its agenda to accelerate change in the water services sector as it seeks to meet the demand of a growing population and an expanding agricultural sector.
On the March 22 edition of the radio and television programme InFocus, Cromwell Williams, Water Engineer at the Water Services Department (WSD) said the theme for World Water Day 2023 – “Accelerating Change” is apt as it captures the general strategy of the Government to build resiliency as it grapples with reduced rainfall due to climate change.
Drilling new wells, upgrading pipes, and enhancing technical skills are among the strategies to tap new sources of water to meet the growing demand. However, desalination has been identified as a key solution for long-term sustainability, and plans to construct a small plant are set to begin.
“We have one that we are about to start, a smaller one that is a donation from the United Arab Emirates, which should be going [down] in the Canada area close to the shooting range,” Mr. Williams stated. “The UAE plant is ready. They have started work on the ground, not in terms of constructing the plant but doing the geotechnical exploration. And that plant will be starting full construction in a few weeks or months, and I think that will be completed in not late this year, very early next year.”
A larger desalination plant is likely to be constructed in the same area. Mr. Williams said the addition to the water supply will help to relieve the shortages that are predicted to grow worse with reduced rainfall in the coming years.
“We will pump that water into Basseterre, and that water will also be fed Westward as needed and even Eastward towards Cayon if needed,” the manager of WSD stated.
Residents are strongly encouraged to practice simple water conservation techniques that contribute to gallons upon gallons of water being wasted every day. These include turning off the tap when brushing teeth and getting soaped during showers, fixing leaky pipes, and washing dishes in tubs – one for washing, the other for rinsing.