The expanded Ffryes Beach Reverse Osmosis Plant is scheduled to be officially handed over on September 24 as the Government advances several projects aimed at improving water production, storage and distribution.

Utilities Minister Melford Nicholas updated Cabinet on Wednesday on the continuing expansion of Antigua and Barbuda’s desalinated water-production capacity and efforts to address longstanding weaknesses in the distribution system.

The Ffryes expansion is expected to add approximately one million imperial gallons of water per day and strengthen supplies to communities in the south-western section of Antigua.

The project was completed through cooperation between the governments and people of Antigua and Barbuda and Japan.

Cabinet expressed appreciation to Japan for its continued support of the country’s water infrastructure.

APUA figures published in June showed that potable-water production had increased to approximately 11 million imperial gallons per day, compared with about 3.5 million gallons daily in 2014.

However, Cabinet acknowledged that increased production alone will not solve the country’s water problems. Greater storage capacity, stronger pumping infrastructure and improvements to ageing pipelines will be needed to ensure water reaches consumers consistently.

As part of that effort, Cabinet approved a recommendation allowing APUA to pursue the acquisition of four water-storage tanks at the former United States Air Force Base at Coolidge.

The tanks, which are located on land owned by the Antigua and Barbuda Social Security Board, have a combined storage capacity of approximately two million gallons.

APUA has been authorised to undertake the required surveying, valuation and property-transfer arrangements with the Social Security Board.

Under the proposal, water produced at the Ivan Rodrigues Reverse Osmosis Plant and the Seven Seas Barnacle Point facility will be pumped to the Coolidge tanks before being distributed to northern communities.

Plans also include the construction of a pump station and the installation of dedicated standby generation to improve the system’s reliability.

Cabinet cautioned that interruptions may continue while APUA carries out maintenance and works to improve storage and distribution.

The Government said the Ffryes expansion, Coolidge storage project and continuing pipeline upgrades form part of a broader strategy to improve national water security.