Water Authority - Cayman and Cayman Water supply Grand Cayman with quality water. In the case of both companies, water is extracted from deep underground via a series of abstraction wells.
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The water that is extracted is saline groundwater and has to be treated using reverse osmosis. This process, with the addition of three fluoride-free chemicals, makes the water safe to drink straight from the tap. All chemicals added to the water are approved by the NSF International (National Sanitation Foundation) for potable water use.
Cayman Water serves the Seven Mile Beach and West Bay areas, while the Water Authority serves the rest of Grand Cayman and Cayman Brac with piped and trucked water. Currently, piped water is available to customers on the western end and north coast of Cayman Brac, straight up to Spot Bay. The remainder of the island is served by water trucks. Water Authority will continue to expand its network in Cayman Brac, with a new Bluff water works facility in the long term.
Both companies require you to fill out an application, present your Land Registry form for proof of ownership and pay a non-refundable connection fee that varies according to the size of your water meter. Please note that both companies only allow property owners (not renters) to apply for water service. If you are a tenant, please arrange with your landlord to receive duplicate billing.
Water Rates
Water costs are typically lower than electricity, but an undetected leak, such as a running toilet or faulty irrigation system, can quickly inflate your water bill to far exceed other household costs. Always be sure to inspect your home regularly for dripping taps and ‘phantom flushing’ toilets to avoid an unexpectedly high water bill. CostWatch provides monitoring and automation services that allow you to track and manage your utilities, keeping costs within budget. If you have a leak, running toilet or irrigation fault causing high water usage, CostWatch will notify you quickly and could even stop it automatically. If you do suspect a leak, contact a licensed plumber as soon as possible.
At Water Authority ‒ Cayman, the first 12 cubic meters (m³) (approximately 3,200 US gallons) for a residential account is charged at CI$4.34/m³. Anything above that costs CI$5.57/m³. In addition, there is also a statutory fee of $0.22/m³, and an energy adjustment factor charge (that varies monthly and covers the fluctuations in the cost of electricity to produce the desalinated water). Monthly meter charges also vary depending on the size of the meter, from CI$5 to CI$58 for meter sizes ranging from 20mm to 150mm. Water Authority’s website allows property owners and tenants to register for an online account and pay their bills electronically. For emergencies outside of business hours, call (345) 946 4357.
At Cayman Water, the first 3,000 US gallons for a residential customer was charged at CI$18.98/1000 gal. Anything above that costs CI$22.77/1000 gal. An energy adjustment factor surcharge is applied each month that varies according to the cost of electricity. Monthly meter charges also vary depending on the size of the meter, from CI$3.50 to CI$40 for meter sizes ranging from 5/8” to 6”. Cayman Water’s website provides additional information to customers, such as current water quality data and answers to frequently asked questions.
Bottled Water
Locally bottled water is clean, affordable and comes in large blue reusable BPA-free five-gallon bottles that can be delivered to your home or office. Flowers Bottled Water (Tel: (345) 949 8688) sells purified, chlorine-free water in five-gallon BPA-free bottles. You can also buy imported bottled water from grocery stores. However, this generates a huge amount of plastic waste, so is discouraged. If you do purchase water from supermarkets, take the time to properly recycle your waste. See Being Green for information on recycling in Cayman.
Bulk Water
For those who need their cisterns filled, Flowers Block provides bulk water.
