Antigua and Barbuda on Friday commissioned a new reverse osmosis water plant at Barnacle Point that will add two million imperial gallons of potable water per day, a major expansion officials say strengthens national water security.
The facility is the second plant delivered under a partnership between the Antigua Public Utilities Authority and Seven Seas Water Group, following the commissioning of a one-million-gallon-per-day plant at Fryes Beach last year .
Minister responsible for utilities Melford Nicholas said the project addresses one of the country’s most persistent challenges.
“Water security is a national security,” Nicholas said. “By investing wisely, managing responsibly, and educating continuously, we are protecting our economy, strengthening our resilience, and preserving our environment” .
APUA Acting Water Business Unit Manager Jason Peters said the opening marked a significant milestone for the country. “In a small island developing state such as ours, water is not just a utility. It is necessary for life,” Peters said. “The launch of this water plant represents more than just policy. It represents a commitment to ensure reliable, safe, and sustainable water access for every citizen today and for generations to come” .
APUA Chief Executive Officer John Bradshaw said the authority has already seen measurable gains since the plant began producing water in November.
“From the 15th of November until yesterday, the average production in the country is 9.3 million gallons a day,” Bradshaw said, adding that output records have been repeatedly broken in recent weeks. “The work is not ended as yet. The work is going to end when everybody, when they turn the tap, will have water” .
Bradshaw said the next phase will focus on automating the distribution system and replacing aging transmission pipelines, some of which are nearly a century old. He also announced plans for an additional 3.2-million-gallon-per-day reverse osmosis plant at Crabbes.
Seven Seas Water Group Chief Executive Officer Henry Chirabi said the Antigua project demonstrates how public-private partnerships can deliver critical infrastructure efficiently.
“In less than 24 months after signing the agreement, we have together provided what is most important for human life, which is fresh drinking water,” Chirabi said. “This is what a successful public-private partnership looks like” .
Chirabi said the company’s model ensures accountability. “Seven Seas Water Group only gets paid if and when we deliver the quantity and quality of water that we are contractually obligated to deliver,” he said, noting that all six operators at the Antigua facilities are local employees .
Governor General Sir Rodney Williams, who attended the ceremony, has followed developments in the water sector closely and was also present at last year’s Fryes Beach commissioning .
Officials said that while increased production is already easing shortages, continued investment in transmission, distribution and system automation will be required to ensure consistent supply across all communities.
