St Lucy water rate relief extended amid filtration project delays

Prime Minister Mia Mottley has announced an extension of basic water rate relief for residents of St Lucy in Barbados. The relief, originally scheduled to end in September, will continue until a new filtration system is fully installed at the Barbados Water Authority’s (BWA) Alleynedale Pumping Station.

The delay is attributed to production and supply chain disruptions involving a containerized treatment system being manufactured in California, which is now expected to arrive in September or October. While the filtration plant is being prepared for installation, excavation works at the site are already underway.

To address water discoloration, the BWA has completed the replacement of approximately 43 kilometers of water mains. This component of the project, valued at $43 million, has reportedly resulted in clearer water for more than 4,000 households in St Lucy and parts of St Peter. The new treatment plant is expected to cost approximately $5 million.