Antigua has reinforced its water security by opening a new seawater desalination plant at Ffryes Beach, capable of producing one million imperial gallons of drinking water daily. This facility is part of a Water-as-a-Service agreement between the Antigua Public Utilities Authority (APUA) and Seven Seas Water Group, with plans for a second plant to boost total production to three million gallons per day. Utilizing seawater reverse osmosis technology, these modern facilities will ensure a reliable supply of safe drinking water for the island’s growing population and tourism sector, addressing increasing demands for water in light of climate change impacts and water scarcity.
APUA and Seven Seas Water Group have opened a new seawater desalination plant at Ffryes Beach in Antigua. The facility, representing a significant Caribbean desalination solution, can produce 1 million imperial gallons of drinking water daily for local residents. This plant is the first of two facilities announced in March 2024 as part of a Water-as-a-Service agreement between the organizations. Together, the plants will eventually provide up to 3 million imperial gallons of drinking water per day, making this one of the more substantial Caribbean desalination solutions implemented in recent years. The Ffryes Beach plant sits next to APUA’s existing water facility. The second plant will be built beside APUA’s Ivan Rodriguez facility and should begin operating in the third quarter of this year, further expanding the Caribbean desalination solution for Antigua. These new facilities will guarantee high-quality drinking water for Antiguans over the next 12 years.
The plants use seawater reverse osmosis technology to convert seawater into safe drinking water, a proven Caribbean desalination solution that works well in island environments. The project moved quickly, with the first plant completed in just 10 months after the contract signing. This rapid timeline impressed government officials involved in the project and demonstrates how modern Caribbean desalination solutions can be implemented efficiently. Melford Nicholas, Antigua’s Minister of Information, Communication Technologies, Utilities, and Energy, praised the swift completion. “This additional volume will be critical for Antigua, marking the beginning of our ambitious efforts to provide reliable water island-wide,” he said. Water security has become increasingly important for Antigua as demands grow from multiple sectors. Tourism, cruise ships, and residents all need reliable access to clean water, making effective Caribbean desalination solutions a priority for the island nation.
APUA General Manager John Bradshaw highlighted these growing demands. He expressed enthusiasm about expanding capacity for high-quality drinking water through the partnership and the implementation of this Caribbean desalination solution. Bradshaw noted that the Water-as-a-Service model aligns with APUA’s mission to provide affordable, safe, and dependable water. This approach also enables rapid expansion of water infrastructure, an important consideration when developing Caribbean desalination solutions. The Water-as-a-Service model represents a shift in how water infrastructure is developed and maintained. Rather than building and operating facilities themselves, organizations like APUA partner with specialized water service providers who offer comprehensive Caribbean desalination solutions.
Under this arrangement, Seven Seas Water Group designs, builds, owns, and operates the facilities. APUA then purchases the water produced, rather than managing the infrastructure directly, a model that has proven successful for other Caribbean desalination solutions. This approach transfers much of the technical and operational risk to the service provider. It also allows for faster deployment of new water facilities compared to traditional infrastructure projects, a critical advantage when implementing Caribbean desalination solutions in regions facing water scarcity. Henry Charrabé, CEO of Seven Seas Water Group, emphasized the strong collaboration with the Antiguan government and APUA. He pointed to the rapid deployment as evidence of his company’s capabilities in delivering efficient Caribbean desalination solutions. “Delivering this plant in less than a year shows our ability to deploy water solutions quickly and efficiently,” Charrabé stated.