Individual water storage and rainwater harvesting have been incorporated into the Pelican Court housing development to help residents cope with interruptions to the public supply, Chief of Staff Lionel Hurst said Thursday.

Hurst said the arrangements reflected conditions in Antigua and Barbuda and the particular difficulties residents of upper-floor apartments could face when water is unavailable.

“We instructed the Chinese that there are times when APUA water is not going to be available,” he told ABS during coverage of the development’s handover.

“People who live on the third floor and so on, they find it very difficult to cart water up three flights of stairs.”

Hurst said officials had therefore insisted that each apartment have water storage capability. He explained that infrastructure had been installed to capture rainfall and store it for individual households.

“The infrastructure is put in place to allow for rainwater to be captured and to be kept by each of the condominium dwellers,” he said.

Hurst described the arrangement as an adaptation to local needs and said the Chinese project team had accommodated the request.

The storage facilities are intended to provide households with a reserve during supply disruptions. Hurst did not specify how long the stored water would last or outline arrangements for treating harvested rainwater.

The 150-unit Pelican Court development replaces the former Booby Alley settlement in St. John’s City West. Built through an approximately EC$50 million grant from China, it comprises nine residential buildings.

Hurst said the development would also require adjustments to communal living, with residents sharing outdoor spaces rather than having individual yards.

He contrasted the new facilities with the overcrowded conditions of the former settlement, where some households had little space for everyday activities.

China formally handed over the development to the government of Antigua and Barbuda on Thursday. Prime Minister Gaston Browne said residents could begin moving in by January, once landscaping, utility meter installation and other outstanding work are completed.

This article was originally published by Antigua News Room. Read the original article here: Pelican Court homes equipped with water storage to help during supply interruptions.