NIA CHARLESTOWN, NEVIS (September 10, 2026) - The Concerned Citizens Movement (CCM)-led Nevis Island Administration (NIA) has commissioned a new 500,000-gallon glass-fused water storage tank at Stoney Hill, marking another significant investment in strengthening water security and resilience on Nevis.
The tank, which was officially commissioned on Thursday, forms part of the NIA’s ongoing efforts to expand water storage capacity and ensure a more reliable supply to communities, businesses and essential services across the island.
Minister responsible for Works and Water Services, the Honourable Spencer Brand, said the project represents more than the addition of storage infrastructure, describing it as an investment in the island’s resilience and future development.
“Over the past decade, the Nevis Island Administration has made water a major infrastructure priority. During that period, our investment in the water sector – including water production, storage, distribution, wells, pumping infrastructure, pipelines and other improvements- has been well over EC$50 million,” he said.
“That is a substantial commitment for an island of our size, and it demonstrates that this Administration understands a fundamental truth: without a reliable supply of water, sustainable development simply cannot take place.”
Minister Brand noted that water is essential across every sector of the island’s economy and social infrastructure. He explained that increased storage capacity is particularly important because water production alone is not sufficient to guarantee reliability.
“Homes need water. Our schools and health facilities need water. Agriculture needs water. Hotels and businesses need water. Construction and new housing developments need water. And every family on Nevis deserves access to a safe and reliable supply,” he said.
“The commissioning of this 500,000-gallon tank, therefore, represents another important step in strengthening our overall system. Storage is particularly important because producing water is only one part of the equation. We must also have the capacity to store sufficient quantities so that the system has a buffer during periods of high demand, maintenance, emergencies or interruptions in production.”
The infrastructure work for the project commenced in February 2026, while construction of the 60-foot-diameter by 30-foot-high tank was completed in May. The works were undertaken by contractor and Principal of Precision Construction, Ronell Webbe, and his team.
Floyd Robinson, Director of the NIA’s Integrated Water Resource Management Unit (IWRM), said the new tank, together with the existing tank at the Stoney Hill site, brings total storage capacity at the location to one million gallons.
He explained that this represents approximately a three-day supply should a disaster or other emergency cause the pumps at the nearby feeder wells to become inoperable. The two tanks can supply communities south of Stoney Hill, as well as areas as far as Charlestown.
Minister Brand said the NIA is also looking beyond traditional groundwater sources as it plans for the island’s long-term water needs.
“Climate change, prolonged dry periods, changing rainfall patterns and increasing demand require us to diversify our sources of supply. That is why desalination will form an increasingly important part of our water-security strategy.”
“Our plans for expanded desalination capacity, together with additional storage, improved pumping systems, better monitoring and continued efforts to reduce leakage and water losses, are all part of building a more resilient water network.”
He said the NIA’s approach is focused not only on meeting current demand but also on ensuring that water infrastructure is capable of supporting Nevis’ continued growth.
“Our objective must be ambitious but achievable. We are therefore not merely responding to today’s demand. We are planning for the Nevis of tomorrow. We are planning for more homes, more hotels, increased agricultural production, expanding commercial activity and a growing economy. The infrastructure we build today must have the capacity to support that future,” Minister Brand said.
Also delivering remarks at the commissioning ceremony were Acting Premier, the Honourable Eric Evelyn; Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Works and Water Services, Denzil Stanley; and Juzan Dore, brother of project contractor Ronell Webbe of Precision Construction.
In attendance were Deputy Governor-General for Nevis, Her Honour Mrs. Hyleeta Liburd; members of the NIA Cabinet; officials and staff of the Ministry and Department of Water Resources and the IWRM Unit; and other invited guests.
Disclaimer
This article was posted in its entirety as received by SKNVibes.com. This media house does not correct any spelling or grammatical error within press releases and commentaries. The views expressed therein are not necessarily those of SKNVibes.com, its sponsors or advertisers
