The Dominica Water and Sewerage Company Limited (DOWASCO) has characterized 2025 as a year of substantial advancement in its nationwide water infrastructure development program. General Manager Bernard Ettinoffe provided a comprehensive progress report during an interview with State-Owned Radio DBS, highlighting multiple successful initiatives across the island nation.
Substantial completion has been achieved in the Castle Bruce area, where pipeline installation from water intake sources to treatment facilities and new storage tanks is nearly finalized. Ettinoffe confirmed that construction of a new intake structure is scheduled for early 2026, promising enhanced water supply reliability for the Castle Bruce community.
Similar infrastructure upgrades have been successfully implemented in Grand Fond, Morne Jaune, and Riviere Cyrique, though Ettinoffe acknowledged occasional challenges with existing pipe systems during replacement operations. The utility maintained continuous community engagement through site visits and consultations to address concerns throughout the construction process.
In the Calibishie region, DOWASCO is currently constructing the community’s primary storage tank while having already installed most supply and distribution lines. Although the intake facility remains pending, the overall project promises substantial improvements to local water systems.
Additional communities including Grand Savanne, Coulibistrie, and Salisbury are witnessing ongoing progress, with project completion anticipated by April 2026. These developments form part of Dominica’s comprehensive water sector modernization effort, despite challenges posed by increasingly intense rainfall patterns affecting water quality.
Ettinoffe extended gratitude to customers for their support throughout 2025 and commended DOWASCO staff as the ‘engines’ of the organization for their dedicated field work under pressure. The general manager additionally emphasized the continued necessity of governmental support for maintaining the critical water infrastructure development momentum.