Utilities Minister Melford Nicholas has revealed plans to construct a new dam in Antigua’s Bendals Valley, while confirming that the decades-old Potworks Dam is in urgent need of repairs after leaking for more than 30 years.

The new facility in Bendals is intended to capture more surface runoff during rainfall, helping both to store additional water and replenish underground aquifers. According to Nicholas, the proposed dam will support national efforts to reduce reliance on expensive desalinated water by maximising the use of surface and groundwater resources.

“Large captures of water on the surface help to replenish the aquifers,” the minister said, outlining the dual environmental and economic benefits of expanded catchment systems in the Bendals region.

Meanwhile, the Potworks Dam—built in 1970 and capable of holding up to two billion gallons—continues to suffer from a long-standing leak in its southern spillway. Nicholas confirmed that repairs to the damaged spillway are being prioritised, with restoration plans now underway.

Although Potworks remains one of the island’s largest reservoirs, the minister acknowledged that the compromised spillway has limited its full storage potential. In addition to water loss through evaporation, the damaged infrastructure has allowed valuable runoff to escape back to sea.

The minister also addressed public discussions around desilting the dam’s basin. While some have called for dredging to increase capacity, Nicholas pointed to technical studies that recommend against such action. The accumulated silt, he explained, functions as a natural sealant, preventing water from leaking through the porous limestone base.

“If we remove the silt, we risk exposing a layer of limestone that will cause us to lose water,” he said.