APUA and Seven Seas complete water plant in record time and under budget

APUA and Seven Seas complete water plant in record time and under budget

A new reverse osmosis plant at Ffryers Beach has been completed in less than one year and at a lower cost than projected, officials announced on Saturday.

The one-million-imperial-gallon-per-day facility, constructed by the Antigua Public Utilities Authority (APUA) in partnership with Seven Seas Water Group, was commissioned on World Water Day. It is now supplying communities in the south of Antigua with a consistent water supply.

APUA General Manager John Bradshaw said the project was completed at a cost of EC$5.3 million, below the initial budget of EC$7 million. Construction began in July 2024 following a contract signed in March of the same year. The plant became operational by the end of January 2025.

“This plant is part of a broader strategy to stabilise the country’s water supply,” Mr Bradshaw said. “It shows what can be achieved with the right partnerships and strong project management.”

The project was delivered under a Build, Own, Operate, Transfer (BOOT) agreement. While Seven Seas owns and maintains the desalination equipment, APUA retains ownership of the supporting infrastructure.

Seven Seas Water Group, a Florida-based company, provided engineering and operational support throughout the project. The company’s Chief Operating Officer, Dan Kennedy, said such projects would usually take two to five years to complete under standard procedures.

“We are pleased to have delivered this in less than a year,” Mr Kennedy said. “It reflects our model of delivering reliable water services through local partnerships.”

Minister of Public Utilities Melford Nicholas welcomed the achievement and described it as a model for future projects.

The government is currently developing a second plant at Barnacle Point, which is expected to add a further two million gallons per day to the national water supply. Officials say both projects are part of a national plan to provide round-the-clock water access to all residents by the end of 2025.

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