Project Details
Location: Point Fortin, Trinidad and Tobago
Customer: Water and Sewerage Authority of Trinidad and Tobago
Technology: Seawater Reverse Osmosis
Capacity: 7.2 MGD (27,252 m3/d)
Challenges
- Fast-tracking a 5.2 MGD (19,682 m³/d) desalination plant, expandable to 7.2 MGD (27,252 m³/d)
- Protecting a sensitive marine ecosystem
- Overcoming delays due to site issues, including discovery of an on-site oil well
- Treating feed water, which is impacted by seasonal weather patterns and silt outflows from the Orinoco River
Desalination plant delivers reliable fresh water to 29,000 long-underserved islanders


The Caribbean Island of Trinidad has a tourist industry, but its oil and gas resources are mainstays of the economy. While Trinidad has no shortage of fossil fuel, fresh water has historically been a problem.
In the late 2000s, when the island was in the grip of a severe drought and drinking-water shortage, the Water and Sewerage Authority of Trinidad and Tobago (WASA) reached out to Seven Seas Water Group to fast-track delivery of fresh water to Point Fortin and nearby areas on the island of Trinidad.
Residents of the Point Fortin area were only receiving water service one day a week, thus making this project critically time-sensitive to deliver reliable, 24/7 fresh water. However, this project had several challenges to overcome. The delicate marine ecosystem had to be left unharmed. The pretreatment process needed to be designed to accommodate large shifts in feed water quality throughout the seasons. Construction on the small, 1.2-acre site at an oil refinery had to be halted when an oil well was unexpectedly discovered, which took eight months to cap. And, because existing piping could not be used, new lines crossing active roadways had to be installed.
Solution: Reliable Fresh Water With No Upfront Investment
Seven Seas Water Group delivered the largest desalination project in Trinidad in a decade. Even with significant obstacles, residents in and around Point Fortin went from water service only one or two days per week to 24/7 service only 14 months after permits were secured. The project took advantage of a flexible BOO contract that required no initial investment.
Additional Findings
Seven Seas Water Group also initiated an environmental management program to monitor effluent quality, which included surveys to monitor the effect of reverse osmosis brine outfall on the surrounding marine ecosystem. Seven Seas continuously works with two independent firms to assure effluent quality and protect the marine ecosystem. Learn more about our commitment to sustainability.
According to a Harvard study,
“[…] the project performs above the industry norm both in producing freshwater that is of exceptionally good quality and in monitoring its effluent into the sea. This project creates a clear net positive impact on the community, achieving water supply for 29,000 people.”



Solution: Reliable Fresh Water With No Upfront Investment
Seven Seas Water Group delivered the largest desalination project in Trinidad in a decade. Even with significant obstacles, residents in and around Point Fortin went from water service only one or two days per week to 24/7 service only 14 months after permits were secured. The project took advantage of a flexible BOO contract that required no initial investment.
Additional Findings
Seven Seas Water Group also initiated an environmental management program to monitor effluent quality, which included surveys to monitor the effect of reverse osmosis brine outfall on the surrounding marine ecosystem. Seven Seas continuously works with two independent firms to assure effluent quality and protect the marine ecosystem. Learn more about our commitment to sustainability.
According to a Harvard study,
“[…] the project performs above the industry norm both in producing freshwater that is of exceptionally good quality and in monitoring its effluent into the sea. This project creates a clear net positive impact on the community, achieving water supply for 29,000 people.”
Water Production Handled by Water Professionals
Seven Seas Water Group’s Water-as-a-Service® (WaaS®) public-private partnership (P3) contracts allow our clients to focus on their core missions and leave water headaches to specialists. WaaS® delivers a specified volume of water at a specified quality or we don’t get paid, so interests are aligned. We build quality infrastructure to last and handle all operations and maintenance.
Seven Seas Water Group is the originator of P3 water infrastructure projects. Contact us to find out how your service area can get the updated infrastructure it needs with no upfront investment.
Water Production Handled by Water Professionals
With Water-as-a-Service®, Seven Seas takes on all the duties of water and wastewater treatment with no upfront investment, charging clients only for delivered water under performance-based contracts. We offer variable-year arrangements and can buy and upgrade existing infrastructure. Our modular equipment can be efficiently scaled up or down to meet changing demand. Contact Seven Seas. Our water professionals are ready to share our many problem-solving options.
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