FIAP, through its Caribbean Cooperation Facility (EU-CCF), has financed the project for the design and layout of a treated water pipeline to be reused for irrigation and aquifer recharge, while connecting the communities of Bellevue Gap and Belle Tenantry to the Bridgetown water treatment system in Barbados. The technical assistance also included the environmental impact assessment and the environmental management plan for this connection to the Bridgetown water treatment system (BSTP). At the end of this consultancy and after construction works, a total of 225 households will have sanitation facilities and 235 hectares will have treated water for irrigation in Bridgetown, Barbados.

The launch event took place at the headquarters of the Barbados Water Authority (BWA) and was attended by the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), the Delegation of the European Union to Barbados, the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) and the Caribbean Forum of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (CARIFORUM). Both the Delegation of the European Union and the BWA are pleased with the start of the work and are confident of the benefits it will bring to the city.

A delegation made up of BWA, FIAP, Multilateral Development (DEM), CARICOM/CARIFORUM, made the provisional tour of the treated water pipeline in order to get to know the territory. FIAP, CARICOM/CARIFORUM and the EUD also held a meeting with representatives of the Barbados Bureau of Gender Affairs to present the activities and promote everyone’s involvement.

3R-CReWS Project

BWA is currently implementing the 3Rs (Reduce, Reuse and Recycle) strategy for the Climate Resilience Wastewater Systems (3R-CReWS) project in Barbados. This project is funded with US$40 million from the Green Climate Fund (GCF) for the design, tendering and installation of advanced equipment at the Bridgetown Water Treatment Plant (BSTP). In addition, the Caribbean Development Fund (CDF) has provided US$10 million for the necessary infrastructure works to upgrade the BSTP and its system.

The goal is to achieve a climate resilience pathway through increased phasing in the BSTP. Specifically, adding the third phase of water treatment; the connection of two communities (Belle Tenantry and Bellevue Gap) to the BSTP’s wastewater collection system; and the installation of a 9 km pipeline to supply treated water for irrigation of 235 hectares and injection wells for aquifer recharge. The Government of Barbados, through the BWA, has co-financed and is responsible for the latter two activities.