As Saint Lucians prepare to pay more for water and sewerage services, Opposition Leader Allen Chastanet is questioning whether higher rates alone will solve the country’s longstanding water challenges, arguing that deeper structural issues remain unresolved.
Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, Chastanet said while the Water and Sewerage Company (WASCO) must be financially sustainable and operate efficiently, the recently approved increase in water and sewerage rates may not address the root causes of the island’s water problems.
The National Utilities Regulatory Commission (NURC) approved the rate adjustment following a series of stakeholder consultations. The increase will be implemented in two phases, with the first taking effect in the June 2026 billing cycle and a second adjustment scheduled for January 2027.
Chastanet revealed that the United Workers Party intends to engage both businesses and households to assess the economic impact the higher rates could have on consumers already facing rising living costs.
Drawing comparisons with the electricity sector, Chastanet argued that WASCO operates under a different pricing structure than the island’s electricity provider, which he said has mechanisms to respond to fluctuating operating costs.
“In the case of LUCELEC, there is a provision that allows LUCELEC to charge a surge charge to deal with the fluctuating price of energy. WASCO on the other hand does not have such a provision,” he explained.
According to the former prime minister, the absence of such a mechanism means WASCO is often forced to absorb increased production costs, particularly during periods when generating and distributing water becomes more expensive. He contended that the latest rate increase does not fundamentally resolve that challenge.
Chastanet also revisited infrastructure projects undertaken during his administration, criticizing the current government for not continuing the John Compton Dam desilting programme. At the same time, he welcomed ongoing efforts to rehabilitate the Theobalds Water Treatment Plant in Ciceron, describing the project as both necessary and beneficial.
He argued that sediment build-up in the John Compton Dam, combined with losses from treated water systems, has contributed significantly to water supply difficulties over the years.
As part of what he described as a longer-term solution, Chastanet advocated for expanded metering and leak detection across the water network. He said identifying and repairing leaks would reduce non-revenue water losses, ease pressure on water resources, and ultimately help lower operational costs.
The debate comes as many consumers prepare for the first phase of the approved increase and seek assurances that higher bills will translate into a more reliable water supply. With water security remaining one of the country’s most pressing infrastructure challenges, the effectiveness of the measures being implemented is likely to remain under close public scrutiny in the months ahead.
