Basseterre, St. Kitts (MoPIEUDT NEWS) – Day 3 of the 2026 Budget Debate (December 18, 2025) brought the operations and plans of the St. Kitts Water Services Department (WSD) into the national spotlight as Hon. Konris Maynard, Minister of Public Infrastructure, Energy, Utilities, Domestic Transport, Information, Communications, Technology and Post, outlined plans to improve water infrastructure in priority zones plagued by legacy infrastructure.
Minister Maynard stated:
“Focused attention will be placed on the systematic replacement and rehabilitation of aging water infrastructure, particularly in high-growth and high-loss areas such as the Southeast Peninsula and other priority zones where legacy pipelines and fittings have contributed to leaks, service interruptions, and operational inefficiencies.”
Routine and unexpected service interruptions have affected much of the island, compounding the ongoing, climate-induced water shortage.
The WSD introduced routine service interruptions to facilitate water conservation in circumstances where the demand for water exceeded the supply. In contrast, unexpected service interruptions have often been triggered by ruptures associated with aging pipelines and fittings.
Inevitably, the growing demand for potable water in expanding settlements also increases demand islandwide. Consequently, the Ministry’s leadership is aiming to minimize inefficiencies associated with aging pipelines and complement its well drilling activities in rural areas with desalination in Basseterre and Canada Industrial Estate.
Addressing the Water Services Department’s activities on this front, Minister Maynard said:
“We have procured thousands of feet of water pipe to replace the deteriorating pipeline across the entire island, including areas such as Stapleton Village Extension and 15,000 feet of HDPE pipe for the southeast Peninsula.”
The allocation of funds for infrastructural rehabilitation and repairs forms a critical part of the equation. On the matter, Minister Maynard said:
“We have strengthened recurrent expenditure by 15% moving from 8.6 million to 9.9 million as we move to improve routine maintenance, in particular, desal maintenance, in addition to our efforts in reducing inefficiencies and safeguarding existing infrastructure investments.”
As the Water Services Department moves towards improved service delivery and reliability, MoPIEUDT NEWS will bring you additional coverage on its latest plans, projects, and achievements.
Visit mopieudt.gov.kn, water.gov.kn and follow the St. Kitts Water Services Department on Facebook.
