BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS — Minister of Public Infrastructure THe Hon. Konris Maynard marked World Water Day 2026 this week by announcing a landmark milestone for the Federation: the successful commissioning of the Bastia Desalination Plant, which now pumps an additional two million gallons of water per day into the national supply system.
The announcement comes as St. Kitts and Nevis grapples with a troubling environmental trend.
“Over the past decade, we have experienced approximately an 18% decline in average annual rainfall,” Maynard said. “With projections indicating that this trend may continue.”
The Minister said communities that previously struggled with inconsistent supply are now benefiting from reliable 24-hour water service as a direct result of the new plant’s capacity.
“Water is not only essential for life, but also fundamental to our health, our economy, and our national development,” Maynard told residents. “Every drop truly counts.”
This year’s observance carried the theme Water and Gender, with the rallying slogan: Where water flows, equality grows. Maynard used the occasion to connect water security directly to women’s advancement, citing the global reality that women and girls spend an estimated 200 million hours every day collecting water — time lost to education and economic opportunity.
“Women are not just managers of water in the home,” he said. “They are leaders, professionals, engineers, entrepreneurs, and decision makers.”
Among the week’s community activities, the government’s Fix the Drip initiative drew particular praise from the minister. The programme trained participants — with a focus on women — to identify and repair household leaks, a significant source of daily water loss across the island. Maynard announced a second edition is already in the works. School tours of the Bastia plant, a health walk, and an inter-departmental staff exchange between St. Kitts and Nevis rounded out the week’s activities.
Despite the infrastructure gains, Maynard was direct in calling on residents to do their part. He urged citizens to repair household leaks promptly, use water efficiently, and pay for the service.
“A significant amount of water is lost daily through leaks within households,” the Minister said. “Addressing these issues is one of the simplest ways to improve water availability across the island.”
The Government says it continues to invest in well drilling, expanded storage reservoirs, upgraded pipelines, and modern efficiency technologies as part of a long-term national water strategy.
Maynard closed by recognising Water Services Department staff who, he said, “rise in the early hours of the morning, respond to emergencies at all times of the day and night, and sacrifice time with their families to ensure that water reaches our homes.”
World Water Week 2026 was officially declared open by the Minister at the conclusion of his address.