Water security is growing as a pressing priority for small island nations, where limited freshwater resources are already strained by seasonal dry periods and aging infrastructure. On the Caribbean island of Saint Lucia, the local Water and Sewerage Company (WASCO) has launched an ambitious new initiative to cut systemic water losses by 5% within the next three to five years, backed by technical support from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
The collaboration between the two organizations targets the most common causes of preventable water loss across WASCO’s distribution network: persistent pipe leaks, incorrectly functioning water meters, and unregulated unauthorized water access. To lead the on-the-ground implementation of the program, JICA has dispatched veteran water supply engineer Tomohiro Minami to Saint Lucia, who began his two-year assignment with WASCO’s specialized non-revenue water team in June 2026.
Minami brings decades of global experience to the role, having previously worked on community-focused water management projects in Nepal and Tanzania, where he helped build local capacity to address chronic water loss. In an official press statement shared by the partnership, Minami outlined his core priorities for the tenure: supporting WASCO to develop a sustainable, long-term framework for water loss management, and building the skills of local staff through hands-on training. “To achieve this, I will work together with WASCO’s staff to collect and analyse the data, assess the current situation, and implement pilot activities in selected areas,” he explained.
Early results from the collaboration have already shown promise, according to WASCO’s Senior Planning and System Supervisor Hamish Joseph. Joseph noted that the partnership has already helped the company gain deeper, more actionable insights into the performance of its entire water network, describing the ongoing collaboration as “very productive.”
Beyond the direct operational gains for WASCO, the 5% water loss reduction target is expected to deliver tangible benefits to consumers across Saint Lucia. Retaining treated water that currently escapes through leaks and burst pipes will expand the volume of water available for customer delivery, creating a far more consistent and reliable water supply that reduces the risk of acute shortages during the island’s annual dry season, when freshwater resources are already stretched thin.
The initiative also brings significant financial advantages for the utility. By cutting the volume of treated water lost before it reaches paying customers, WASCO will generate cost savings that can be reinvested back into critical infrastructure upgrades, further improving the long-term resilience of Saint Lucia’s water distribution system.