�Water supply in the islands is a matter of choice with many
homes collecting rain water in large concrete cisterns in the ground. Grand Cayman and
Cayman Brac are also serviced by a piped water network and the water is desalinated sea
water made by reverse osmosis. De-sal water was first supplied by Cayman Water Company
which began operating in 1976 and supplied water to the Governor's Harbour area. In 1979
they were awarded a 20 year franchise to supply water to the entire Seven Mile Beach strip
and again in 1990 were granted a franchise to supply water to West Bay as well.
The Cayman Islands Water Authority operates a piped water network to the rest of the
island and purchases water the from Central De-Sal Ltd. who in turn uses waste heat from
CUC's generators to make the water. The CIWA also has a contract with Ocean Conversions
(formally Reliable Water Cayman) to supply it with de-sal water for its piped network.
CIWA service on Cayman Brac began in 1991 and the water is purchased from Ocean
Conversions. CIWA also operates a trucked water service providing de-sal water to those
homes which the piped network has not yet reached.