WASCO Meets with Cap Estate Residents on Water Supply
Updated: Aug 27
Representatives from the Water and Sewerage Company (WASCO), led by CEO Zilta Leslie George, attended the Cap Estate Association AGM on 20 March 2025 to discuss the ongoing water supply problems affecting Cap Estate.
WASCO explained that the chronic shortages experienced in Cap Estate are not primarily caused by a lack of available water, but by ageing and inadequate transmission and distribution infrastructure.
The John Compton Reservoir is currently operating at approximately 50% of its original capacity, but WASCO advised that it can still provide sufficient water for northern Saint Lucia during the dry season. The main problems include an ageing raw-water pipeline supplying the Theobalds Treatment Plant and an inadequate transmission line serving Cap Estate, where water losses were estimated at more than 50%. These issues contribute to the rationing and intermittent supply experienced by residents.
Planned improvements
WASCO outlined several major infrastructure projects intended to improve the situation:
replacement of approximately 5 km of the 24-inch raw-water pipeline between the John Compton Dam and Theobalds Treatment Plant;
replacement of the transmission pipeline from Rodney Bay to Cap Estate; and
upgrades to the Theobalds Water Treatment Plant.
Residents raised concerns about the severity of recent interruptions, with some households reporting periods of up to eight weeks without a regular supply. WASCO apologised for the disruption and acknowledged a number of recent infrastructure failures.
CEA welcomed the opportunity for residents to speak directly with WASCO and will continue to engage with the company regarding improvements to the reliability of Cap Estate's water supply.
