Government of Saint Kitts and Nevis Commissions Historic Basseterre Desalination Plant, Delivering Water Security to Nearly 70% Of the Population

Basseterre, Saint Kitts(SKNIS): The Government of Saint Kitts and Nevis has officially commissioned the new two-million-gallon-per-day Basseterre Desalination Plant, marking a transformative milestone in the Federation’s efforts to strengthen national water security and advance climate resilience.

Designed to provide a reliable and sustainable potable water supply to Basseterre and surrounding communities, the state-of-the-art facility utilises advanced reverse osmosis technology to convert seawater into high-quality drinking water. Fully integrated into the national system, the plant will help provide potable water access to nearly 70 per cent of the population — addressing a long-standing national challenge and significantly expanding the country’s daily production capacity.

Delivering remarks at the commissioning ceremony, Prime Minister of Saint Kitts and Nevis, the Honourable Dr Terrance Drew, underscored the life-changing impact of the project.

“This desalination plant will help to provide potable water to nearly 70 per cent of our population after many years of not being able to do so,” said Prime Minister Drew. “This desalination plant will change the lives of our people here in Saint Kitts and Nevis. No government can say it’s worth its salt if it cannot give its people water. And that is why this administration determined that we must provide water for our people. It should not be stressful. You should not agonise over it.”

The prime minister emphasised that access to water is not a privilege, but a fundamental responsibility of governance and a cornerstone of national development.

Minister responsible for Water Services, the Honourable Konris Maynard, described the commissioning as a defining moment in the Federation’s history.

“This is the turning of a page in our nation’s history. This is the sound of water security flowing into the future of Saint Kitts and Nevis. This is powering progress,” the minister stressed.

Minister Maynard placed the scale of the achievement into perspective, noting that the island currently produces approximately six million gallons of water per day — four million gallons from groundwater sources and two million gallons from surface springs. This single desalination plant alone produces two million gallons per day, equivalent to the combined output of major river sources including Wingfield River, Green Hill River, Franklands River, Stone Fort River, Phillips River, Lodge River, and Fountain River.

“All of our runoff water cannot amount to the amount of water we produce or will be producing in this plant. That is historic. That is transformative. That is leadership in action,” said Minister Maynard.

This critical infrastructure investment forms part of the Government’s broader Sustainable Island State Agenda — a national development framework focused on building resilient infrastructure, safeguarding public health, and ensuring equitable access to essential services for all citizens and residents.

The project was executed under the leadership of the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, in close collaboration with the Water Services Department and key technical partner Royal Utilities Ltd., with funding generously provided by the Republic of China (Taiwan).

With the commissioning of the Basseterre Desalination Plant, Saint Kitts and Nevis takes a decisive step forward in securing a dependable, climate-resilient water future for generations to come — powering progress and strengthening the foundation for sustainable national development.