Basseterre, St. Kitts, March 26, 2018 (SKNIS): With the increase in developments in St. Kitts and Nevis, which results in the demand for increase in water, Water Engineer and Manager of the St. Kitts Water Services Department (WSD), T. Dennison Paul, said that the federation is prepared to meet the challenge of making water readily available and accessible to people as the country boasts universal access to water.
“Fortunately for us… we have universal access to water in St. Kitts and Nevis. Everyone has access to water. In fact, 98 percent of our population has access to pipe borne water in their homes,” he said, while explaining that the two percent who do not have, have access to 260 public standpipes that are scattered across the island. … “So we are much more fortunate than others in faraway places.”
In addition to universal access, the Manager of the WSD said that the federation also boasts water that meets international standards.
“Our water quality is excellent in most instances. We have 26 wells … and of those wells the quality of the water is excellent,” he noted, adding that work has been done over the years to ensure that the water does not get contaminated. “As of two years ago, all of our surface supplies are being disinfected through the means of chlorination. So we have universal access and we have excellent water for the populace.”
With these combined, Mr. Paul reassured the general public that it is safe to drink water straight from the tap as the quality of water directly from the pipe is good and exceeds bottled water.
In his ministerial statement to commemorate World Water Day, which was celebrated on March 22, 2018, Minister with responsibility for the WSD, the Honourable Ian ‘Patches’ Liburd, reiterated that St. Kitts and Nevis is fortunate to have access to universal pipe borne water, and noted that the his ministry will continue in this endeavour to ensure that this is maintained.
