Basseterre Valley Aquifer showcased in upcoming IWCAM activities

St. Kitts, March 14, 2010 (SKNIS): The St. Kitts and Nevis Global Environment Facility (GEF) – Integrating Watershed and Coastal Areas Management (IWCAM) Project will be hosting a press conference, a stakeholder consultation and community meeting over the course of the coming week.

The GEF-IWCAM Project involves the development of demonstration sites in 13 participating Small Island Developing States (SIDS). In St. Kitts and Nevis the demonstration site is the Basseterre Valley Aquifer which is an approximate 8 square mile area between the Olivees Mountain to the southwest, the Canada Hills to the northeast and the Conaree Hills to the east.

This basin widens to the southeast and empties into the Caribbean Sea at Basseterre. The aquifer provides 60 percent, approximately 2.5 million gallons of water for the daily consumption of residents in Basseterre.

The Press Conference which will be held on Monday, March 15 at 2:00 p.m. at the Parliamentary Lounge, Government Headquarters, will feature Dr. Glenn Haas and Dr. Robert Aukerman of Ocean Earth Technologies Consortium (OET) along with officials of the Ministry of Sustainable Development and Water Services Department. OET conducted a hydro-geological survey and provided a report in 2009 which gave a basis for the completion of the Water Resource Management Plan and Park Management Plan for St. Kitts and Nevis.

The Water Resource Management Plan includes modernizing well construction techniques, and developing additional water supplies, while the Park Management Plan proposals involves the creation of a recreational area above the Basseterre Valley Aquifer.

The latter includes drafting the appropriate legislation to protect the area, with details including construction practices to be undertaken as well as creating comprehensive management policies inclusive of the proposed park’s financing and marketing.