INFORME ANALÍTICO

5. WATER RESOURCES

Antigua’s water supplies are provided from dams and drilled wells. The estimated present demand is 4.2 (19090 m³/d). Due to the relatively low rainfall the supply from these sources may vary significantly. These range from 4.5 mgd (20450 m³/d) during good rainfall periods at as low as 10 mgd (4545 m³/d during drought periods.

With an economy heavily dependant on tourism the Government took a decision as early as 1969 to augment its water supplies by means for desalination.

Desalination can supply as much as 3.2 mgd (14545 m³/d) to the system with 70% of this production being installed during the past ten years.

The Water Division has endeavoured over the years to maintain a water quality based on the U.S. Public Health Standards. However, water quality has always been maintained better than WHO standards. However, water quality has always been maintained better than WHO standards. These standards have always been policed by the Sanitation Department of the Ministry of Heatlh.

The water system is administered by the Water Division of the Antigua Public Utilities Authority (a wholly owned government Statutory body). This Authority also operates the electricity and telephone systems throughout the state.

In recent times investment in its sector has been provided by operators who build, own and operate (part of) the desalination systems. Private developers are responsible for the capital cost of infrastructure, which design must be approved by the Development Control Authority & APUA. Upon completion APUA assumes the operation & maintenance.