Basseterre, St. Kitts, March 24, 2023 (SKNIS): With the growing water shortages and lack of water conservation, among others, Cromwell Williams, Water Engineer at the Water Services Department (WSD), said that it is time to hold a national conversation on the price structure of water in St. Kitts and Nevis.
“I think St. Kitts and Nevis is one of the places where water is cheapest. The last time the water price was increased was 2001, 20 years ago. Let us be realistic, $20 for water in 2023, is not sustainable if we want to provide a world-class water service. So that is something that needs to be articulated,” said Mr. Williams on the March 22 edition of the radio and television programme InFocus.
He said that the topic of conservation has been ongoing for 20-plus years and there are some people playing their part. However, there are some people who choose to use the water as they please given its low cost.
“That is not sustainable because there are persons, households that are using 30,000 and 50,000 gallons when they should be using three and five thousand. They are using 10 times more water than they should be using, and this is no joking matter,” he said. “There are families and households that have leaks… and so, you are robbing your neighbour of having a reliable water supply.”
The mission of the St. Kitts Water Services Department is to ensure that all reasonable needs of customers are met in a timely and efficient manner through the effective management of the Federation’s water resources.
