Basseterre is one step closer to achieving a continuous 24-hour water supply, as work on the two-million-gallon-per-day Desalination Plant at the C. A. Paul Southwell Industrial Park is now “well advanced,” according to Minister of Public Infrastructure, Konris Maynard.
Minister Maynard confirmed that the desalination plant was powered up for the first time on Thursday, 16th October, 2025, marking a significant milestone in the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis’ mission to improve national water security. He explained that the facility is now undergoing phased testing of its treatment stages, including the reverse osmosis system, which will continue for several weeks.
“We made a commitment that we will undertake to ease and significantly improve the water situation of the Federation, in particular, Saint Kitts, and we are well on the way to do so,” Minister Maynard told the National Assembly on 17th October, 2025.
Once fully operational, the desalination plant will provide a reliable and sustainable source of water to meet the increasing demand from households, businesses, and the growing industrial sector. The project is a cornerstone of the Government’s efforts to modernise the island’s water infrastructure and ensure resilience against the effects of climate change.
Meanwhile, work continues beyond the Basseterre area to expand potable water access island-wide. A hydrological drone survey, completed earlier this month, identified 17 promising sites across St. Kitts where new groundwater reserves are likely stored.
The identified locations include one site in Cayon, two in Molineaux, two in Tabernacle, one in Belle Vue, two in Saddlers, one between Parsons and Dieppe Bay, one in St. Paul’s, one in Newton Ground, three in Sandy Point, one in Stone Fort, one in Old Road, and one in Challengers.
“We intend to pick the first best ten of those sites as we go through the report to identify which ones have the best production capabilities,” Minister Maynard said. He added that the Water Services Department is now assessing the western and northern sections of the island to ensure the full optimisation of available groundwater resources.
The Government has already moved ahead with preparations for drilling, awarding a contract to Water and Oil Well Services Ltd. of Trinidad and Tobago. The contract was signed on 22nd September, 2025, with the “Notice to Proceed” issued on 10th October, 2025. Work on the first site is expected to begin in December.
Together, the desalination plant and new groundwater developments mark a major step in strengthening water infrastructure, improving reliability, and advancing the Federation’s Sustainable Island State Agenda.
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