In a major step toward strengthening water security and modernising its ageing infrastructure, the Government of Barbados has secured a US$700,000 (BDS$1.4 million) grant from the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean (CAF). The funding will support efforts to curb chronic water losses across the island, particularly due to outdated and leaky underground pipes.
The agreement was signed during a brief ceremony at the Barbados Water Authority (BWA) headquarters in Wildey. CAF’s Caribbean Regional Manager, Dr. Stacy Richards-Kennedy, said the initiative would directly support the reduction of non-revenue water—water that is produced but not billed due to leaks, theft, or meter inaccuracies.
“This is a grant agreement for US$700,000 to support the reduction of non-revenue water wastage and to strengthen infrastructure for increased water security across Barbados,” Richards-Kennedy explained. “CAF has been working closely with the Barbados government on this issue for years, including through a previous US$10 million loan to the BWA.”
Non-revenue water remains a significant challenge for the island. Acting General Manager of the BWA, Christopher Mapp, revealed that the agency estimates water losses of up to 50 percent. “That is water we are paying for but not getting any revenue from, so we welcome this assistance,” he said.
Prime Minister Mia Mottley, who has made water security a priority in her administration’s climate resilience agenda, thanked CAF for its continued partnership. She emphasized that water is at the forefront of the climate crisis in Barbados, especially given the island’s reliance on groundwater and the vulnerability of its supply network.
“At the Vineyard facility alone, we lose approximately 42 percent of the water pumped,” Mottley disclosed. “That means 42 gallons out of every 100 go unaccounted for. This is as a result of an aged infrastructure, and if we don’t reduce our non-revenue water, we’ll continue carrying costs that we can’t recover.”
Mottley also noted that a technical study recently prepared by CAF recommends a complete overhaul of the BWA’s network management systems. Those recommendations, she said, will be shared with her this weekend and are expected to inform major structural changes to the island’s water supply framework.
CAF’s most recent involvement follows its broader development financing in Barbados, which has included support for road upgrades, heritage tourism, and post-disaster recovery efforts after Hurricane Beryl. The multilateral bank, founded in 1970, supports sustainable development and regional integration projects across Latin America and the Caribbean, offering financial and technical assistance to both public and private sector clients.
The new grant marks the start of a crucial phase in ensuring that Barbados can maintain a secure, efficient, and climate-resilient water supply for the future.
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