Antigua and Barbuda is set to benefit from a new partnership with Cuba aimed at improving water distribution across the island, particularly in areas affected by low pressure.

Information Minister Melford Nicholas said Cuban engineers have reviewed the country’s hydraulic system and proposed upgrades that will be implemented in the coming weeks and months.

“Getting water into higher elevations has been a challenge,” Nicholas said during a state media interview. “But the Cuban team has designed improvements that should resolve this.”

He cited recent progress, noting that some residents in elevated communities have received water for the first time in a long while.

Meanwhile, longer-term efforts will focus on enhancing surface water storage. A damaged spillway near the Waterworks treatment plant has been leaking runoff back into the sea, limiting the effectiveness of the Potworks Dam.

Repairs are planned for the spillway to maximise water retention, with the dam expected to eventually hold up to two billion gallons. Similar work is also scheduled for the Bendals catchment area.