Water prices to increase in Antigua and Barbuda from March 2024

The price of water is set to increase in Antigua and Barbuda from March 1, 2024, in order to support a loan from the Antigua Commercial Bank. The development was announced by the Minister of Water, Melford Nicholas, who said that the loan aims to fund major water infrastructure improvements.

He added that the loan was taken to meet the rising demand for water services in the nation.

The Minister said that during the last month, he had certainly presented to the cabinet that in order for the country to meet the ongoing demands for water services, removing the deficit that existed in the production and sale of water was necessary.

According to the information, commercial customers will witness an increase in water rates from March 1, and residential customers will see a similar adjustment sometime after.

The approval by Antigua and Barbuda cabinet approved the plan to raise water rates, enabling the APUA - Antigua Public Utilities Authority to execute the modifications.

During the press conference, the Minister added that the funding mechanism for the Bethesda plant takes into account the requirement for a change in the balance of the equation with the raised rates anticipated to ease funding the additional 3.2 million gallons of water each day.

He also said that the collaboration with the 7 Seas Water Group is also anticipated to bring an additional four million gallons of water which will further boost the water supply.

The Water Minister outlined that what he was saying to the general public is that with the execution of the 7 Seas Water Group, they are expected to bring a combined additional four million gallons of water.

He further added that once the country is in sight of being able to complete before the end of this year, another 3.2 million gallons of water per day from the Desal plant, along with the existing capacity of around 7.5 to 8 million gallons each day.

"We will have more than enough water to meet the existing and the expected demands that are going to be placed for water," he outlined.

Minister Nicholas assured the public by his statement. He said that the government is busy ensuring the public that there is sufficient water in the system before implementing the rate increase, so the public should not accept increased rates without the needed water supply.