DOWASCO says Dominica’s Water Sector Strategic Development Project (WSSDP) is nearing completion, with the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) approving an extension of the project’s terminal disbursement date to allow the remaining works to be completed.
The Dominica Water and Sewerage Company Limited (DOWASCO) says the island’s Water Sector Strategic Development Project (WSSDP) has reached an advanced stage of completion, with major progress recorded across all key components despite a number of implementation challenges.
According to a DOWASCO press release, the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) has approved an extension of the project’s Terminal Disbursement Date from March 30, 2026, to September 30, 2026. The utility company said the extension will allow contractors to complete the remaining works and ensure the successful delivery of the project’s objectives.
DOWASCO reported that seven of the project’s nine Glass-Fused-to-Steel water storage tanks have been completed in Castle Bruce, Calibishie, Morne Jaune, Grand Fond, Salisbury and Grand Savanne. Concrete works for the Morne Rachette tank base were expected to begin around July 8.
The company said that once all nine tanks are completed, they will increase the island’s water storage capacity by approximately 1.195 million imperial gallons, providing a minimum of two days’ water storage for the benefiting communities and significantly improving the resilience and reliability of the national water supply system.
The press release also highlighted substantial progress in pipeline installation works. Pressure testing has been largely completed in Castle Bruce, while testing in Calibishie is expected to begin shortly. Following successful testing, the pipelines will be disinfected, service connections transferred and final road reinstatement carried out. In the interim, DOWASCO said temporary trench reinstatement continues to ensure the safety and convenience of motorists and residents.
Additional works scheduled in the coming weeks include river and ravine crossings in Coulibistrie and Morne Jaune, along with the construction of three pump houses and four chlorinator buildings.
DOWASCO explained that design modifications required additional pipes and fittings for some sections of the network. Those materials are expected to arrive by mid-August and will allow pipeline installation in the Morne Rachette area to be completed.
The company also outlined the impact of severe flooding that struck Dominica’s east coast on April 26, 2026. According to the release, intense rainfall associated with a trough system triggered multiple landslides in the Castle Bruce area, causing severe erosion at one of the project’s tank sites and damaging its access road after a tributary of the Senhouse River changed course.
DOWASCO said a landslide upstream created a temporary natural dam that later failed, unleashing a mudslide that caused extensive flooding, erosion and the deposition of debris, trees and boulders downstream.
While acknowledging that the extreme weather event affected one project site, the company said it underscored the importance of the WSSDP’s climate resilience objectives. After assessing several engineering options, DOWASCO determined that the preferred solution is to dismantle the affected Glass-Fused-to-Steel tank and reconstruct it at a newly identified, more secure location on a new concrete foundation. Disassembly work is expected to begin shortly.
The utility company added that remedial works are also being undertaken to stabilise eroded pipe trenches and restore access roads damaged during the flooding.
According to the release, the project’s final phase will focus on intake works, including the construction of new water intakes at Castle Bruce and Coulibistrie and the rehabilitation of existing intakes at Grand Fond and Calibishie. These works will be financed through local counterpart funding.
DOWASCO said it remains committed to the successful completion of the Water Sector Strategic Development Project and thanked residents and stakeholders for their continued patience and cooperation throughout the implementation process.
The company noted that the project will strengthen Dominica’s water infrastructure, improve service reliability, expand water storage capacity and enhance the resilience of the country’s water supply system for years to come.
The WSSDP is funded by the United Kingdom Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office through the UK Caribbean Infrastructure Fund and is administered by the Caribbean Development Bank in partnership with the Government of Dominica and DOWASCO.
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