The Water and Sewerage Company has officially commenced a major upgrade of water infrastructure in northern Saint Lucia, with the launch of the Northern Pipeline Project aimed at improving reliability and efficiency along a critical corridor.
The agreement was signed on April 14, 2026, at the conference room of the National Workers Union headquarters in Castries.
The project, which stretches from Bonne Terre to Gros Islet, was marked by a contract signing on Tuesday and is expected to address long-standing supply challenges in the area.
Chief Executive Officer Zilta George-Leslie described the initiative as a transformative investment in the island’s water system.
“The Northern Pipeline project will transform how we deliver water to one of Saint Lucia’s most vital corridors,” she said. “We are here to inaugurate the replacement of approximately 1.1 kilometers of aging infrastructure with a new 20-inch ductile iron pipeline.”
She explained that the upgrade will replace an older 14-inch cast iron pipeline that has been in service since the 1990s.
“What replaces it will improve pressure, reduce leakage, and carry reliable service to residents, businesses, and the tourism communities in the north for decades to come,” George-Leslie added.
Representatives from Construction and Industrial Equipment Ltd, the firm involved in the works, acknowledged that some disruption is expected but assured that efforts will be made to minimize inconvenience to the public.
“We would like to keep the disruptions to a minimum,” said Representative Pawan Joshie. “We will advise you in advance of the planning and how the works are going to be executed, and we will try to complete it in the shortest possible time.”
He added that construction will be scheduled to avoid peak traffic periods. “We will not be working during peak hours to facilitate commuters, and we seek the cooperation of residents, motorists, and businesses for the successful completion of the project.”
Minister for Public Utilities Keithson Charles used the occasion to highlight the broader issue of water security, urging citizens to play their part.
“Water security is a shared responsibility,” he said. “As we invest heavily in WASCO, I urge all Saint Lucians to embrace rainwater harvesting. The government has provided VAT exemptions on tanks, so let us capture the blessings when it rains.”
Prime Minister Philip J Pierre also outlined plans for structural reform within WASCO, aimed at ensuring long-term sustainability.
“We are in the process of creating an entire new structure for WASCO, an arrangement that will allow it to serve the people of Saint Lucia while being able to sustain itself,” he said.
Pierre noted that water remains relatively affordable on the island but emphasized the need for modernization. He confirmed that Cabinet has approved a public-private partnership arrangement and that the International Finance Corporation of the World Bank will assist in developing the new framework.
“The IFC will return to Saint Lucia to help the government put together a PPP structure for WASCO,” he said.
The Northern Pipeline Project forms part of a wider push to modernize the island’s water infrastructure and improve service delivery, particularly in high-demand areas in the north.