CASTRIES, St Lucia (CMC) – St Lucia has signed two agreements with the Barbados-based Caribbean Community (Caricom) Development Fund (CDF) to support national water infrastructure and expand access to clean, reliable water.

“This investment aligns closely with the CDF’s strategic goals and regional mandate to foster inclusive development and reduce disparities among and within our member states,” said CDF’s chief executive officer, Rodinald Soomer.

“The CDF is pleased to be able to respond to the urgent need to invest in these water infrastructure upgrades, which are so critical to advancing balanced and sustainable growth and development in St Lucia and the wider region, and thanks the Government of St Lucia and WASCO (Water and Sewerage Company Inc) for the opportunity to partner in this endeavour,” he  added.

The first agreement provides US $4.2 million in concessional financing for the rehabilitation and upgrade of the Theobalds Water Supply System with the authorities saying the  investment will restore full treatment capacity, introduce solar-powered energy systems, and modernise key operational components to improve service delivery.

The second agreement secures supplementary financing of US $781,000 for the Patience Water Supply Project, targeting long-standing water challenges in underserved communities in the southeast of the island.

The Patience Water System services 10 communities, and, when completed, this improved water system is expected to satisfy an increase in daily consumption demand from 60 gallons to 80 gallons per person.

The CDF initially provided loan financing of US$1.2 million for the rehabilitation of the Patience Water Treatment System, so this total concessional loan financing for this project now increases to almost US$2.

In addition to these loan instruments, St Lucia has secured US$670,000 in grant support, which will fund rainwater harvesting systems, renewable energy installations at the Theobalds Water Treatment Plant, and public education campaigns focused on climate adaptation and water use.

Implementation of the projects will be led by the WASCO.

“WASCO needs to be given the resources. And that is why the seven million US dollar investment in WASCO today, some through loans and some through grants, is extremely important for what is going forward,” said Prime Minister Phillip J Pierre.

“ We’ve been having discussions with the Caribbean Development Bank to ensure that we get a real investment in the water supply in terms of the pipeline in into the north of the country, and that is going to cost millions of dollars,” he added.

Senior Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Ports, Transport, Physical Development and Urban Renewal, Stephenson King, said that  the WASCO infrastructure is deteriorating rapidly.

“WASCO records some 51 to 52 per cent of non-revenue water, which is unacceptable. The raw water line from the John Compton Dam through to the Ciceron plant is in need of reconstruction. I’m happy that the prime minister has demonstrated full commitment to that cause. And today we are negotiating with the Caricom Development Bank to replace the raw water line to improve the capacity from the John Compton Dam in the system,” King said.

King said he welcomes the new initiative of rehabilitation, rehabilitating the Thoebalds treatment plant and to be able to improve capacity, particularly to the north of the country.

“But as we do those things, there must be a coordinated approach to ensuring that all of the elements are synchronised and streamlined to ensure that we do it in a manner that ensures tremendous benefit to those at the end of the water line,”  he added.

The chief executive officer of WASCO, Zilta George-Leslie, said  WASCO’s capacity to address and to remedy these challenges within the existing infrastructure has been hindered by the lack of financial resources necessary to fund these upgrades.

“However, through the awarding of US $4.233 million loan from the Caricom Development Fund backed by the government of Saint Lucia through the Ministry of Finance, WASCO can now get down to the business of rehabilitating the Theobalds’s treatment plant.

“In addition to this loan, the Technical Assistance Grant of $US 670,000 has been allocated for the provision of a safe, reliable and climate resilient supply of potable water to residents served by the Theobalds water treatment plant.

“The use of this grant is expected to result in the installation of energy efficient and renewable energy equipment at the plant. The provision of direct support for vulnerable communities through training and installation of rainwater harvesting systems, and enhanced water security for over 48,000 customers comprising of residents, hotels and other business businesses,’ George-Leslie said, noting that the project is expected to be completed within an 18-month period.