Barbados ponders more desalination to tackle water scarcity

Barbados is very likely to soon have another desalination plant according to minister of agriculture, food, fisheries and water resource management, David Estwick.

Speaking at a formal opening of the Barbados Water Authority’s new headquarters, the minister said that the severity of water shortages on the island: “there is going to be no solution apart from desalination that will effectively address the challenges in the short to long term.”

Estwick said that he had already asked the water authority’s acting general manager, John Mwansa, to request proposals to build a new desalination facility. He said seawater desalination was the direction that Barbados had to take, and he anticipated that it would take about 18 months to two years to bring such a plant to fruition.

His remarks came as he indicated that his ministry is also well aware of the naribbean Development Bank earlier this week, and they will be seeking approval for funding from their board to deal with non-revenue water.