This was a pilot project to demonstrate the economic feasibility and scalability of using a Salt Water Reverse Osmosis (SWRO) plant powered by a renewable photo voltaic system in a water scarce island. The size and geography of Bequia made it an ideal site for the project. Fresh- water is a major issue for Bequia because of its calciferous soil and lack of surface water. This is the same for many Caribbean islands and it has serious consequences for both the local people and the tourism-related yachting industry that depends on local sources for the provision of potable water.

Of the various options considered, salt-water desalinization was the only viable solution to Bequia’s serious water problems. It replaced a rudimentary rainwater harvesting system which was only able to provide fresh water during the rainy season and left the residents with no other option than that of shipping in water from neighbouring islands during the dry season.

SWRO systems are very energy intensive. For this reason the project included a Photo Voltaic (PV) renewable energy source, a grid connected to provide the required power. The system produces potable water that exceeds the previous standards, both in cost and quality. In fact, a water analysis showed that the desalinized water produced by the system surpassed the internationally recommended quality thresholds for potable water.

The PV-powered, SWRO pilot system conducted in Bequia has resulted in a number of worthwhile outcomes namely:

• It can provide greater energy and water security for Bequia.
• The modular design can be easily expanded to meet growing community demand.
• It can take only three months to assemble.
• It can provide a baseline which can assess the effectiveness of replicating it on other Small Island States, such as the other islands in the Grenadines, the offshore Cayes in Belize, and the Bahamas.