Basseterre, St. Kitts, August 21, 2026
A newly drilled groundwater well in Saddlers has delivered an encouraging boost to St. Kitts’ efforts to strengthen its water supply, with initial testing producing approximately 175 US gallons per minute.
The well is the first drilled under the Government’s EC$28 million Groundwater Drilling Project, being implemented by the St. Kitts Water Services Department in collaboration with Trinidad and Tobago-based Water and Oil Well Services and technical specialists.
The initiative forms part of a wider strategy to increase water production, improve the resilience of the national distribution system and move St. Kitts closer to reliable 24-hour water service.
Saddlers was selected following airborne surveys and hydrogeological assessments that identified 17 prospective drilling sites across the island. The exploration programme has placed particular attention on communities that have historically experienced intermittent water service.
Drilling at the Saddlers site has been completed at a depth of approximately 640 feet, with the water table encountered at about 500 feet. Safe-yield testing is now underway to determine how much water can be sustainably extracted from the source.
Project Manager Joshua Ross described the result as “a very promising well,” pointing to the significant volume of water being produced from the single source.
The existing source serving the Saddlers area produces approximately 50 gallons per minute. The new well therefore has the potential to substantially increase the amount of water available to Saddlers and nearby communities, including Harris’ Village, Lavington and Belle Vue.
Once permanent pumping equipment is installed and final testing is completed, construction of the pump house and other supporting infrastructure will begin, followed by connection of the new source to the existing distribution network.
Officials have also indicated that the additional supply could be redirected to other neighbouring communities when necessary, depending on demand and system requirements.
Chief Water Engineer Landrith Isaac said the groundwater programme is one part of a broader investment in the island’s water infrastructure.
Another major component is the Basseterre Desalination Plant, commissioned in February 2026, which added approximately two million gallons of water per day to the national supply.
According to Isaac, the various projects are being developed as an interconnected system designed to increase production, strengthen distribution and improve reliability across St. Kitts.
“Everything has to work together to ensure that everyone gets a 24-hour supply,” Mr. Isaac said.
He said that once the new groundwater wells are completed and integrated into the national network, St. Kitts is projected to achieve approximately 99.9 percent 24-hour water service coverage.
The potential impact of additional groundwater sources can already be seen in Cayon. Isaac noted that following the commissioning of a well there in 2024, residents who had experienced years of water shortages have benefited from continuous service.
With the Saddlers drilling phase completed, the project has moved to its second location at Newton Ground.
The drilling rig has been relocated to the community, where drilling had reached approximately 108 feet at the time of the latest update. The target depth is between 500 and 600 feet.
Officials said work at Newton Ground is progressing more quickly, aided by experience gained while addressing geological challenges during the Saddlers operation.
Other locations identified for groundwater exploration include Black Rocks, Parsons Ground, Tabernacle, Sandy Point, St. Paul’s, Brimstone Hill, Old Road, Molineaux, Stone Fort, Challengers and Cayon.
The wider drilling programme is expected to run for approximately 18 months, although the timeline will depend on the geological conditions encountered at each site.
As wells are completed, supporting infrastructure — including pipelines, electricity connections, pump houses and additional storage — will also be developed to facilitate their integration into the public water system.
The Saddlers results provide an early indication of the potential of the groundwater programme, as St. Kitts continues its push to expand production and build a more reliable water network.
Source: PMO
