$15M Agreement signed to improve Water supply in North, Southeast

Saint Lucia and the CARICOM Development Fund (CDF) have signed three financing agreements totalling US$5.7 million (EC$15.4m) to support two critical water projects essential for improving the water supply to northern and southeastern regions. 

The country has been suffering with an inconsistent water supply for years due in part to frequent backwashing of aged filters at the Theobalds water treatment plant in Ciceron. The plant, originally constructed in 1993, was expanded in 2007 to a total capacity of 10.8 million gallons per day.

The signing ceremony by the government, the Water and Sewerage Company (WASCO) and the CDF marked a renewed partnership to address longstanding infrastructure issues and prepare for future water demands intensified by climate change.

The funding will go toward the upgrading of the Theobalds Water Treatment Plant, valued at US$4.9 million, with US$670,000 provided as grant funding and US$4.23 million as a concessional loan. The other is supplementary financing of US$780,000 for the Patience Water Supply Redevelopment Project to address rising costs since the project’s initial launch in December 2023.

The project brings CDF’s total investment in Saint Lucia’s water infrastructure to nearly US$7 million.

“This is not just a technical upgrade. It’s a moral imperative to ensure every Saint Lucian has access to safe and reliable drinking water,” said Rodinald Soomer, CEO of the CARICOM Development Fund. He noted that water “is essential for life and is inextricably linked to development in all its facets”.

Soomer emphasised the projects’ alignment with the Fund’s mission to promote equitable growth and climate resilience in small island states. He highlighted how the investment would not only improve service delivery but also strengthen disaster preparedness and support vital sectors like tourism and agriculture.

Zilta George-Leslie, WASCO’s Chief Executive Officer, described the Theobalds plant as one of the island’s most vital facilities, but one now operating at just 40% efficiency due to aged infrastructure. Six of its ten filters are no longer functional, forcing the use of outdated and inefficient processes.

“Maintenance and treatment have become expensive, and we can ill afford to operate at this level indefinitely,” she said.

George-Leslie praised the CDF loan and grant support, calling it a much-needed step toward restoring full capacity. She outlined plans for the installation of energy-efficient and renewable energy equipment, rainwater harvesting systems and improved water security for over 48,000 customers, including residents and businesses in the north.

The Theobalds upgrade is expected to be completed within 18 months.

The Patience Water Supply Redevelopment Project, valued at US$1.9 million, will install a modern treatment and distribution system to serve Mon Repos and surrounding communities. According to George-Leslie, excavation works have already begun and are expected to take around eight months to complete, weather permitting.

The project will help increase daily water consumption capacity from 60 to 80 gallons per person, while community engagement remains a central pillar of the development process.

Both Soomer and George-Leslie highlighted the urgency of climate adaptation and the necessity of building resilient systems.

“Climate change could negatively impact all development sectors, with serious implications for the island’s population and economy,” Soomer warned.

The water system in the affected regions, including Micoud North, is in the southeast of the island. Present at the signing was Jeremiah Norbert, MP for Micoud North, who highlighted the severe impact of the deteriorated water supply system on his constituency. 

Norbert revealed that over 1,800 homes in Micoud North had been affected, with schools and the local health centre sometimes going days or even weeks without water. He reassured residents that the investment is a meaningful step forward, stating it has been “worth the wait”.