A new water information system for St Kitts and Nevis

HR Wallingford has developed a national Water Information System for the Caribbean islands of St Kitts and Nevis to support effective and efficient management of water resources.  

Climate change is making the effective management of water resources more challenging globally. Water, essential for day to day life, is also critical for agriculture, industry, energy production, and environmental conservation on St Kitts and Nevis. Effective management of water resources requires accurate information on water availability, quality, and usage. But existing data collection and management systems lacked integration, making it difficult for stakeholders to obtain a complete understanding of water resources and their use.

A screen shot from the water information systems developed for St Kitts and Nevis by HR Wallingford
The Water Information System is a data management, visualisation and mapping application.

Decisions driven by data

To address this information gap, HR Wallingford developed a national Water Information System (WIS) for St Kitts and Nevis that responds to stakeholder needs and requirements. 

This was achieved by generating national consensus and support for the WIS. To maximise buy-in to the new system, we identified and assessed existing capabilities, data sources and gaps, and the needs of partners. We looked at how data was being produced, how it was managed and processed, how it was being used and which entities had access to the information. We also considered appropriate levels of access, conditionality, reporting and dissemination. These were tailored to the specific requirement and priorities identified within St Kitts and Nevis.

Cloud-based collaboration

The WIS itself is a web-based data management, visualisation and mapping application hosted in the Cloud. The website facilitates the management of users, organisations and locations where data are collected, as well as the datasets themselves. Time-series data can be uploaded, analysed with interactive graphing tools, compared with other datasets, converted to alternative units of measurement, and downloaded for further analysis and reporting offline.

The website is administered by the Department of the Environment, but other government agencies on St Kitts and Nevis have access in order to upload and manage their datasets and share access to them. This flexibility in data control empowers and encourages ongoing data management via distributed responsibility.

A collaborative approach to water resources management

The St Kitts and Nevis Water Information System provides an objective basis for discussion, negotiation, decision-making and action assessment, as well as for coordinating financing from funding sources.

More specifically, the WIS will support a range of water planning and management business functions in St Kitts and Nevis, helping to deliver a secure water future for the region. 

Want to know more?

Contact our project lead

Headshot of Gina Tsarouchi
Gina Tsarouchi
Principal engineer and project manager
+44 (0)1491 822899
Preferred contact method
Stay informed - opt-in to receive regular updates

By clicking 'Send message', you consent to allow HR Wallingford to store and process the personal information provided in this form to email you requested information. Every email will include a clear unsubscribe link. For more information on how we use your personal data please see our privacy policy.

CAPTCHA