Trinidad-Based Firm Starts Construction on Two Reverse Osmosis Plants in Antigua

ST. JOHN’S, Antigua – A Trinidad-based company has started construction of two reverse osmosis plants in Antigua that will be expected to supply two million gallons of reverse osmosis water daily.

Reverse osmosis is a multi-stage water treatment process that removes contaminants from unfiltered water, or feed water, when pressure forces it through a semipermeable membrane.

A statement issued after the weekly Cabinet meeting did not name the Trinidadian company, but said that “it is estimated that by April 30, 2024, the additional water will begin to flow to consumers.

“This company will build, own, operate, and then transfer (BOOT) the plants to APUA after a fixed number of years,” the statement said.

In November last year, Prime Minister Gaston Browne had hinted at the possibility of the state-owned APUA purchasing water from a Trinidad and Tobago-based company, as he expressed his frustration regarding the ongoing water crisis on the island.

Browne, told listeners to his weekly radio program, that despite his administration investing a significant amount of funds over the last few years to deal with the water situation, the problem continues to exist.

He said that the APUA has been requested to consider two options, one from the local company, Caribbean Water Treatment and the other from the Trinidad and Tobago-based company.

Browne said he expects improvements to happen during the coming year, with an additional reverse osmosis plant set to become operational by the second half of 2024, producing three million gallons of water daily.