Government will not release information on the cost estimate for the construction of the the 110,000 gallon Reverse Osmosis Seawater Treatment Plant.

A Government spokeswoman referred to the 2005/2006 Budget Brief for Works and Engineering as the cost estimate should fall under the allotted funds for the overall Reverse Osmosis Plant project.

The figure stated in the Estimates of Revenue And Expenditure of $3,525,000 refers to a ?Mobile Water Treatment? facility but it is unclear if the new facility is designed to be a mobile plant or will be based permanently on site at Robinson?s Bay Park.

So far $1.2 million dollars has been put aside for such a project but has been unable to confirm from either from the Ministry of Works and Engineering or from DCI exactly how much it will cost to build the plant.

It is anticipated the reverse osmosis plant will be operational by year?s end.

A Government statement last week said that after recent ?water challenges? in June and July the Ministry of Works and Engineering recognised the potential for ongoing water shortages due to periods of low rainfall, so a decision was made to increase Government?s potable water production capability.