Consolidated Water Advances Permitting for Kalaeloa Seawater Desalination Project in Hawaii
News release from Consolidated Water Co. Ltd., October 21, 2026
GEORGE TOWN, Cayman Islands, Oct. 21, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Consolidated Water Co. Ltd. (NASDAQ Global Select Market: CWCO), a leading designer, builder, and operator of advanced water treatment plants, today provided an update on permitting and the anticipated construction schedule for its Kalaeloa seawater reverse osmosis desalination project on Oahu, Hawaii.
Since the company’s previous update, the project received approval of its Preservation Plan and Archaeological Monitoring Plan from the State Historic Preservation Division and approval from the Hawaii Department of Health for a Substantial Modification to an Existing Regulated Public Water System. These approvals were required before the company could advance its applications for other permits and approvals.
Several permits and approvals remain outstanding, including a Memorandum of Agreement from the State Historic Preservation Division. Based on the current permitting timeline, Consolidated Water now expects construction to begin in the first half of 2027, compared with its previous expectation of late 2026. The Honolulu Board of Water Supply has granted schedule extensions to reflect the permitting process delays.
In July 2026, the Honolulu Board of Water Supply issued a limited notice to proceed authorizing approximately $6 million for the procurement of long-lead equipment. The early procurement is intended to reduce potential scheduling pressure once the remaining permits and approvals are obtained.
The Kalaeloa facility is being developed under Consolidated Water’s contract to design, build, operate, and maintain a seawater reverse osmosis desalination plant capable of producing 1.7 million gallons of potable water per day. Following commissioning, the company is contracted to operate and maintain the facility for 20 years, with two additional five-year extension options at the client’s discretion.
“We continue to make meaningful progress on the Kalaeloa desalination project,” said Consolidated Water CEO Rick McTaggart. “The recent approvals from the State Historic Preservation Division and the Hawaii Department of Health represent important steps in the permitting process and allow us to advance applications for the remaining permits and approvals. While the permitting timeline has shifted our anticipated construction start to the first half of 2027, the Honolulu Board of Water Supply continues to be supportive and has granted schedule extensions to reflect the process. The limited notice to proceed issued in July is also enabling us to procure long-lead equipment now, which should help the project advance efficiently once the remaining permits and approvals are in place.”
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About Consolidated Water Co. Ltd.
Consolidated Water Co. Ltd. develops and operates advanced water treatment plants and water distribution systems. The company designs, constructs, and operates seawater desalination facilities in the Cayman Islands, The Bahamas, and the British Virgin Islands, and designs, constructs, and operates water treatment and reuse facilities in the United States.
The company also manufactures and services a wide range of products and provides design, engineering, management, operating, and other services applicable to commercial and municipal water production, supply and treatment, and industrial water and wastewater treatment.
For more information, visit cwco.com.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This press release includes statements that may constitute “forward-looking” statements, usually containing the words “believe,” “estimate,” “project,” “intend,” “expect,” “should,” “will” or similar expressions.
This press release contains, or may be deemed to contain, “forward-looking statements” (as defined in the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995), including statements regarding the anticipated construction schedule and completion of the Kalaeloa desalination facility; the effect of permitting delays on that schedule; the timing and receipt of the remaining permits and approvals; the company’s and the Honolulu Board of Water Supply’s efforts to mitigate those delays; and the company’s ability to perform its design, build, operate, and maintain obligations with respect to the Kalaeloa facility, including the anticipated 20-year operating term and any exercise of the related extension options.
These statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements inherently involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements.
Factors that would cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to,
(i) continued acceptance of the company's products and services in the marketplace;
(ii) changes in its relationships with the governments and clients of the jurisdictions in which it operates, including the Honolulu Board of Water Supply;
(iii) the timing and outcome of permitting and other regulatory approvals affecting the Kalaeloa facility;
(iv) the company’s ability to procure equipment and perform its contractual obligations on the anticipated timeline and budget, including with respect to the Kalaeloa facility and the Florida purchase orders;
(v) changes in demand, consumption levels, operating costs, energy costs, weather, and economic conditions in the jurisdictions in which the company operates; and
(vi) various other risks such as economic, operational, and industry-specific risks, as detailed in the company's periodic report filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).
For more information about risks and uncertainties associated with the company’s business, please refer to the “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and “Risk Factors” sections of the company’s SEC filings, including, but not limited to, its annual report on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, copies of which may be obtained by contacting the company’s Secretary at the company’s executive offices or at the “Investors – SEC Filings” page of the company’s website at ir.cwco.com/docs.
Except as otherwise required by law, the company undertakes no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
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EPA Announces $109 Million WIFIA Loan to Increase Water Supply Reliability in Honolulu, Hawaii
(REALITY: 100% unnecessary boondoggle. There is no shortage of fresh water in Hawaii and there never will be. Desal is an energy hog and electricity is very expensive in Hawaii.)
News Release from EPA, October 16, 2026
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a $109 million Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) loan to the Honolulu Board of Water Supply, which serves parts of Oahu, Hawaii. This loan will help the Board design and build a large-scale reverse osmosis seawater desalination plant that will provide 1.7 million gallons of water each day to island residents while decreasing pressure on groundwater aquifers. EPA’s WIFIA loans enable communities to make critical investments in clean, safe, and reliable water to help advance EPA’s “Powering the Great American Comeback” initiative.
“Communities across the country are facing challenges with water infrastructure—from replacing old pipes and pumps, to upgrading service to support growth, to bringing new sources of water online. EPA’s WIFIA program is a lending tool that can help communities make investments in water infrastructure that meets local needs and protects public health,” said EPA Assistant Administrator for Water Jess Kramer. “We are thrilled that Honolulu is using this $109 million WIFIA loan to create a reliable and renewable source of drinking water to benefit the community.”
The Honolulu Board of Water Supply will use WIFIA financing for its Kalaeloa Seawater Desalination Facility Project, which will help convert abundant saltwater into clean and safe drinking water, establishing an alternative drinking water source for the island. This project includes the building of byproduct disposal facilities, a recycled water pipeline, and transmission lines. These new developments will increase supply reliability and reduce reliance on groundwater aquifers. This project will strengthen water resources in central Oahu for the more arid district that the Board serves, west of Honolulu and Pearl Harbor.
“We are pleased to have partnered with the EPA on this WIFIA loan and appreciate their support,” said Ernest Lau, Manager and Chief Engineer of the Honolulu Board of Water Supply. “This financing will assist in constructing the first seawater desalination facility for our island community.”
EPA’s WIFIA program provides a powerful financial tool that can significantly accelerate investments in water infrastructure to protect human health and the environment while saving communities millions of dollars. The Honolulu Board of Water Supply is opting to make the WIFIA loan a subordinate lien, which means the loan will be second to that of the borrower’s senior lien bonds, providing more repayment flexibility. Additionally, the Honolulu Board of Water Supply will utilize the ability to defer principal payments during construction to reduce impact on ratepayers.
WIFIA funding is available to support additional water infrastructure projects: up to $11 billion is available to water systems and another $3 billion is available to State infrastructure financing authorities. EPA is currently accepting letters of interest.
Learn more about EPA’s WIFIA Program and water infrastructure investments, including how to submit a letter of interest.
Background
Established by the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act of 2014, the WIFIA program is a federal loan program administered by EPA. The WIFIA program aims to accelerate investment in the nation’s water infrastructure by providing long-term, low-cost supplemental credit assistance for regionally and nationally significant projects. The WIFIA program has an active pipeline of pending applications for projects that will result in billions of dollars in water infrastructure investment and thousands of jobs.
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SA: Oahu desalination plant fully funded thanks to EPA loan | Honolulu Star-Advertiser
REALITY: Desalination is an expensive energy hog
Advisian: The Cost of Desalination
2025: BWS Approves Kalaeloa Desalination Plant > Hawaii Free Press
2023: Water Bills Going Up: BWS Signs $204M Kalaeloa Desalination Contract > Hawaii Free Press