by Kevon Browne
St. Kitts and Nevis (WINN)—Cromwell Williams, the Manager and Water Engineer of the St. Kitts Water Services Department, confirmed that the island’s Groundwater Drilling Programme has achieved major milestones by successfully finding a massive water source at Saddlers and expanding drilling operations.
The newly drilled well in Saddlers is projected to produce nearly 500,000 gallons of potable water per day and will significantly boost the water network for Saddlers Village, Harris’ Village, Lavington, and Belle Vue.
Williams shared that the second site in Saddlers is expected to yield a significant amount of potable water as well.
“We recently completed drilling of the first well in the Sadler’s area, and that well was highly successful. We estimate that that well will give us close to half a million gallons per day of fresh potable water. So we are here at the second site, which is located between St. Paul’s and Newton Ground. And we have been drilling here now for about one to two weeks. And this site is expected to be completed, hopefully in another three weeks or so. And as of today, they are 280 feet down, and they’re going to approximately 500 feet. We expect again to drill another highly successful well here.”
Williams noted in a recent video that the WSD used drone-based geophysical surveys to pinpoint exact coordinates where underground water is highly likely to be found.
The initiative utilises high-tech, semi-airborne drone surveys to solve decade-long water shortages. It aims to safely restore a continuous 24/7 water supply to affected rural communities.
“Before we started drilling, we would have undertaken a comprehensive hydrogeological survey of the areas around the island and using drone technology and so on. And that would have allowed us to pinpoint where we should drill and where we are expected to be successful. So that is why we are here at this site”
Williams personally visited residents in Newton Ground to update them on the ongoing infrastructure improvements coming to their neighbourhood.
“I took the opportunity to visit a few residents in the Newton Ground area and to update them on the work that we’re doing in the area. We continue to improve our water infrastructure across St. Kitts, staying true to our mandate to provide clean and reliable water to our people.”
The work at Saddlers and Newton Ground is part of a larger plan managed by the Ministry of Public Infrastructure. Aerial surveys identified 17 highly promising sites across St. Kitts for groundwater potential, including:
- 2 sites in Saddlers
- 1 site in Newton Ground
- 1 site in St. Paul’s
Other key spots in Cayon, Molineux, Tabernacle, Sandy Point, and Old Road.
Combined with the nearly finished multi-million-gallon desalination facility in Basseterre, the island is well on its way to achieving total water security.
