Top Ten FAQs
Q. What is Cayman Water?
Answer
Cayman Water is the piped water utility for the Seven Mile Beach area and West Bay District of Grand Cayman. Cayman Water has been providing piped water to Seven Mile Beach since 1973 and to West Bay since 1991. Cayman Water is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Consolidated Water Co. Ltd.
Q. I want piped water service. Should I apply with Cayman Water?
Answer
It depends. If you live in West Bay or on Seven Mile Beach north of Watler’s Road and own your premises, then you may apply for piped water service from Cayman Water.
Service Area Map
If you live outside of these areas, then you should apply with Water Authority-Cayman. If you are a tenant you should contact your landlord regarding piped water service.
Q. Is tap water safe to drink?
Answer
Piped water provided on Grand Cayman by Cayman Water and Water Authority-Cayman is potable water that meets World Health Organization (WHO) standards for drinking water and is perfectly safe to drink.
Click here for detailed Water Quality Information.
Q. How much does piped water cost?
Answer
Go to the Rates page of this web site for the current prices of Cayman Water piped water. For residential customers, piped water costs approximately 2-1/2 cents per US gallon.
Q. From where does Cayman Water get its water?
Answer
All of the piped water supplied on Grand Cayman, including Cayman Water supplied water, is desalinated seawater. Reverse osmosis separates the salt and other contaminants from the water leaving fresh water that is further treated to finished water quality and distributed to our customers.
Q. How can I possibly use as much water as I am billed?
Answer
The American Water Works Association calculates that the average per capita domestic water consumption is 69.3 US gallons per day. For a family of four, that equates to approximately 8,600 gallons per month. This does not include usage like watering the lawn, washing your car or filling a swimming pool, which can add significantly to your monthly water usage. Water wastage can increase your recorded usage by double, triple or more. For example, a “silent” running toilet leak can waste up to 7000 gallons in one month.
Q. I sometimes experience rusty water. What causes this?
Answer
Any water will cause corrosion of metal. Unlike many places in the world where hard water and scaling are problems, piped water in Grand Cayman is the opposite. It is very soft water (i.e. it has fewer dissolved minerals) and as a result is more likely to draw minerals from pipes. Use plastic, brass or other corrosion resistant materials in your plumbing, especially hot water heater fittings. Replace galvanized steel fittings in your hot water plumbing to prevent leaks. Also, keeping your hot water heater temperature as low in your comfort range as you can will mitigate corrosion and prolong your water heater element life.
Q. Is desalinated water a significant source of dietary sodium?
Answer
Cayman Water piped water contains approximately 100 milligrams of sodium per liter of water. There are various recommendations for the limit of daily sodium intake with the average around 2000 milligrams. Drinking a half a liter of tap water a day would provide approximately 2.5% of one’s recommended daily intake of sodium.
Q. Can I buy stock in Cayman Water?
Answer
Cayman Water is a wholly owned subsidiary of Consolidated Water Company LTD. Consolidated Water is a shareholder owned company and its shares are publicly traded on the NASDAQ Stock Exchange in the United States. See the Consolidated Water Company web site for investor information.
Q. Is Cayman Water the same as Water Authority-Cayman?
Answer
No. Cayman Water is a private enterprise business and is not part of the Cayman Islands Government. Cayman Water operates under a 20 year License Agreement granted by the Cayman Islands Government to manufacture potable water from seawater and distribute it by pipes for reward directly to end users.
Q. How many customers are served by Cayman Water?
Answer
Cayman Water has over 5500 service connections that serve an estimated population of about 25,000 people. In addition to residential customers, Cayman Water provides piped water service to restaurants, hotels and businesses on Seven Mile Beach and in West Bay.
Q. How many people are employed by Cayman Water?
Answer
Cayman Water employs approximately 50 staff, 100% are Caymanians, status holders or permanent residents.
Q. Can I tour Cayman Water’s facilities?
Answer
Cayman Water does accommodate group tours for schools and other educational purposes. You may contact the Cayman Water offices at 945-4277 for more information on group tours.
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