St Kitts and Nevis faces water issue amid climate change, Govt takes immediate action

St Kitts and Nevis is experiencing water shortages because of climate change and significant drop in rainfall, which led Prime Minister Dr Terrance Drew and his administration to take immediate steps to address this major issue.

Areas such as St Peter’s, Beacon Heights, Buckey’s Estate, Buckley’s Site, St Johnston Village and New Road are currently experiencing interruptions in water service due to low water levels in the tank. PM Drew said that the officials are actively addressing this issue and are implementing measures to manage and conserve the water resources efficiently. He also said that the government is already working hard to address the matter by working on the following developments: 1) The desal plant at Canada Estate is under construction 2) The well in Cayon is near completion 3) The 2 million gallon desal plant soon to get started 4) Purchasing of water from Marriott Hotel 5) Plans to establish a factory to produce water tanks

“This government is responding to this critical need. Absolutely nothing was started by the Unity government. While this is not a blame game, the truth must be known,” outlined PM Drew.

In addition to this, he noted that as the government of St Kitts and Nevis has no control over climate change and the lack of rainfall, it is seeking solutions as water is life.

The residents in the affected areas are also being provided with drinking water through moving tanks so that they don’t suffer much.

Meanwhile, Minister of Energy, Konris Maynard also took to Facebook to assure the citizens of the continuous work to address the water issue in St Kitts and Nevis. He outlined that the country is unfortunately at the height of this years dry/drought season and simply do not have enough water to share to everyone.

He encouraged everyone to conserve especially in those areas that do actually have water so that we can possibly share some of that water with the more severely affected areas where possible.

The Minister also noted several infrastructural developments that are currently being implemented to address this matter. These projects are as follows: 1. Presently constructing a UAE-sponsored 70 thousand gallon Desal plant in Canada Industrial Site scheduled for completion in 3rd quarter of this year 2. Presently getting additional water to the Frigate Bay/Southeast area from the Royal Utilities Desal Plant that also services The Marriott; 3. Making the final pump connections to the successful water well in Cayon 4. About to construct a (1) million-gallon storage tank in Cayon 5. Finalising the last details to start the construction of a two (2) million-gallon Desal plant at CA Paul Southwell Industrial Estate to supply the Basseterre area, scheduled to be completed around the end of this year 6. Preparing for a whole island helicopter geophysical survey to identify any other potential aquifers so that more wells can be drilled this year 7. At the project preparation stage for a US42 million grant from the Green Climate Fund