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The government of Antigua and Barbuda has announced plans to upgrade its reverse osmosis (RO) plants as the country grapples with a worsening drought and the complete depletion of Potworks Dam, once a key water source.
Speaking at Thursday’s post-Cabinet media briefing, Chief of Staff Lionel Hurst said the upgrade at the Fort James RO plant will include the installation of a new ultra-filtration system to protect membranes from damage caused by sand and sediment.
“This ultra-filtration unit is intended to remove the pebbles and shells that would otherwise hurt the membranes,” Hurst explained, noting that the plant also draws water through wells along the shoreline, providing a natural filtration layer.
Potworks Dam, which previously produced 900,000 gallons of water per day, is no longer in use. With daily demand estimated at 12 million gallons, the government is relying more heavily on desalination.
Hurst acknowledged the high cost of producing desalinated water but defended the government’s continued subsidy through the Antigua Public Utilities Authority (APUA). “APUA sells 1,000 gallons of water for $22, which is far below the production cost,” he said.
While the government is not ruling out a future increase in water rates, officials said any adjustments would only come once all consumers have consistent 24-hour access.
In the meantime, the public is being urged to conserve water. APUA is expected to launch new campaigns promoting household conservation practices, such as turning off taps while brushing teeth or shaving.
Hurst added that the government is also seeking international support, including funding from the Global Environment Facility, to build new dams and increase rainwater catchment.
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Fort James has been around forever — hopefully this means better output and fewer outages.
They should’ve enhanced the plant before the dry season started, not during.
Wonder how long the enhancement will take and if it will cause any service disruptions.
How about better storage systems too? No use producing more water if it all leaks away.
Are they planning any public briefings?
This is indeed a welcome development because a continuous and reliable water supply is a must in any country that prioritizes the needs of its citizens. Afterall, we did not build our homes with indoor showers and flushing toilets just for show.
You have to commend the government and Apua for trying this hard. I am happy to see that they are prioritizing water. It is an essential commodity. And believe me people will vote any government out if they cannot bathe
I would love to know what are the waste management plan for the brime that is outputted by our plants
I honestly think that RO Plants need to be erected at strategic parts of the country to deal with the water shortage. Onet should be erected that is specifically designated to supply water to the center of the island. There was talk of erecting a second Dam. Have an area for such venture been designated.
Reads : fort James plant not working , so we have to enhance the impression it’s working because during labor day a significant amount of enticed people who are going to be at fort James will have first hand knowledge it’s not working.
How old is this plant? Wasn’t it not commissioned a couple years ago? This plant has had problems from day one. Wasted money.