Basseterre, St. Kitts (Public Infrastructure News) – On Tuesday, February 24, 2025, the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis will officially commission the Basseterre Desalination Plant at the C. A. Paul Southwell Industrial Site, signaling the end of the first phase of the pivotal infrastructure project aimed at resolving long-term water shortage issues in Basseterre and the surrounding areas.
Construction of the plant began after the official groundbreaking ceremony on July 17, 2024. With its official commissioning now imminent, locals are anticipating relief to chronic water shortage issues that have plagued the the island for a decade.
Historically, St. Kitts and Nevis has relied on a combination of surface and groundwater to subsist. However, climatic changes have induced less rainfall, making water retrievable from both sources insufficient to meet existing and growing demands for potable water.
Now, with the commissioning of the new plant strengthening the diversity of the water portfolio, residents will soon benefit from improved water security and service reliability.
Minister of Public Infrastructure, Energy and Utilities, the Hon. Konris Maynard, stated:
“The plant represents a critical investment in our national infrastructure and is a tangible demonstration of the Government’s decisive action to address long-standing water challenges in the capital.”
In addition to desalination, the St. Kitts Water Services Department used aerial technology to identify 17 potential drill sites in the northern part of St. Kitts, as part of broader efforts to improve service reliability around the island.
As plans for the Basseterre Desalination Plant’s historic commissioning ceremony continue to unfold, Public Infrastructure News will bring you the latest developments via official WSD channels at mopieudt.gov.kn, and water.gov.kn, and on Facebook.
