Basseterre, Saint Kitts (Public Infrastructure News) – On Tuesday, June 16, 2026, Water Manager and Engineer at the Saint Kitts Water Services Department (WSD), Cromwell Williams, delivered a departmental update on the achievements of the WSD amid the realities of climate change that have continued to impact the department’s regular operations negatively.
Williams was, at the time, speaking among colleagues at the first progress report session organized by the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Energy, and Utilities; the Ministry of Domestic Transport; and the Ministry of Information, Communication, Technology, and Post. The event was hosted by Hon. Konris Maynard who bears responsibility for those ministries.
The Basseterre Desalination Plant
Among the highlights Williams shared were the construction and commissioning of the Basseterre Desalination Plant in February 2026. Williams reported that since the plant’s commissioning, approximately 20,000 customers have had 24/7 water service restored, subject only to intermittent interruptions for scheduled maintenance and emergency repairs. The WSD official also highlighted that the plant’s commissioning increased round-the-clock water service from 25% to approximately 75% of the population.
Placing the department’s achievements within the wider context of frequent and sustained adverse climatic conditions, including the extended period of drought impacting Saint Kitts and Nevis, Williams said:
“The prudence of the government to invest in climate-resilient sources such as the drilling of new wells and desalination [is] why we can face this drought without panicking.”
Still, Williams cautioned that the public should exercise restraint in water use given that the price of producing potable water by desalination now stands at EC$30 per 1 000 gallons, $22.80 more than customers pay for the same amount.
Enhancements in St. Peters
Since May 2026, the island has been grappling with declining rainfall, and residents at higher elevations in places like Saint Peters are facing the brunt of the impact. With drought conditions expected to persist, the WSD has taken decisive action to address the issue.
Both the Hon. Prime Minister Dr. Terrance Drew and the Hon. Minister of Utilities Konris Maynard made separate site visits to critical locations where work was underway to complete a new pipeline to redirect water from Basseterre to those areas.
Williams shared that the pipeline and a new pump have now been successfully installed, and testing of the new system is now underway.
Once fully operational, the new system is expected to supply 150 000 gallons of water to Saint Peters each day, restoring 24/7 water service.
Groundwater Drilling
In the rural areas, ten potential well sites were prioritized for drilling and work on the first site at Saddlers commenced in January 2026.
Williams shared that the sites are collectively projected to supply up to 4 million gallons of water each day, and would be able to satisfy demand up to 2040.
Construction of 500 000 Gallon Water Tank in Cayon
According to the WSD official, the capacity of this tank meets industry standards, allowing for two days supply. It adds reliability to the supply system in the area, which saw a return to 24/7 water supply on the commissioning of a new well in 2024. Williams also indicated that another storage tank may be constructed in the area in the future, and would extend the storage capacity to three days on completion.
As the country continues to navigate the realities of climate change, the Water Services Department remains committed to its mission to ensure all reasonable needs of customers are met in a timely and efficient manner through the effective management of water resources.
Visit water.gov.kn for more information about the WSD’s services and important announcements, and follow the WSD on Facebook for the latest updates.
