The Cabinet recently discussed the crucial issue of producing potable water and achieving a goal of 12 million gallons per day, which is crucial for fulfilling the obligation towards all consumers.

To meet this goal, the APUA Water Division has planned to supplement the six Reverse Osmosis plants in Antigua with two new plants that will produce 1 million gallons each at Barnacle Point and Ffryes.

Moreover, a new reverse osmosis plant will be constructed in Bethesda by 2024, with a daily production capacity of 3.5 million gallons. The Minister of Public Utilities has also confirmed that the demand for water will be met before the end of the first quarter of 2024, i.e., by March 31, 2024.

Chief of Staff in the Office of the Prime Minister Lionel Max Hurst says with the rise in demand due to new hotel projects, homes, and businesses, the APUA is well-prepared to expand its supply to cater to the increasing demand.

He explained that exports have advised the government that it is better to invest its money in reverse osmosis since there is no control over weather conditions and the global climate.

“Consequently, we have invested in Reverse Osmosis because there is certainty in the amount of water that can be produced. We need 12 million gallons a day, and the Portworks Dam which can hold up to 1 billion, 200 million gallons of water, currently has about 800 million stored. Every day, more than 1 million gallons disappear because of evaporation,” he said Hurst said there is no rainfall to supplement what is being evaporated and what is being taken.

“We are drawing down on what is stored and the wisdom of those who studied drought and the history of rainfall has told us if we are going to expand the economy…we cannot depend on rainfall but instead on the Reverse Osmosis system…but not to the complete neglect of the storage system,” he explained.