EXHIBIT 5.1

CHARLES ADAMS, RITCHIE & DUCKWORTH                   PO Box 709 GT, Zephyr House
ATTORNEYS-AT-LAW                                       Mary Street, Grand Cayman
                                                          Cayman Islands, B.W.I.

                                                       Telephone: (345) 949-4544
                                                       Facsimile: (345) 949-7073
                                                        E-mail: card@card.com.ky



April 29th, 2003

Consolidated Water Co. Ltd.,
P.O. Box 1114 GT
Grand Cayman
B.W.I.

Dear Sirs,

We have acted as Cayman Islands counsel to you, a Cayman Islands company ("the
Company"), in connection with the proposed issue and sale by the Company of the
following securities to be registered on a Form F-2 Registration Statement,
("the Registration Statement"), to be filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission ("the Commission") pursuant to the United States Securities Act of
1933 ("the Act"):-

1.    1,767,662 ordinary shares of the Company ("the Shares); and

2.    an additional 265,150 ordinary shares of the Company which may be sold
      pursuant to an over allotment option granted to the Underwriter ("the
      Additional Shares").

In rendering this opinion, we have examined the following documents and
instruments:-

(1)   the Registration Statement (not including the Exhibits filed or to be
      filed unless mentioned below);

(2)   the Company's Certificate of Incorporation;

(3)   the Company's Memorandum and Articles of Association; and

(4)   the resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors of the Company
      authorising the issue and sale of the Shares and the Additional Shares
      (collectively "the Securities") pursuant to the terms contained in the
      Registration Statement.

We have also consulted with officers and directors of the Company and have
obtained such representations with respect to matters of fact as we have deemed
necessary or advisable for purposes of rendering this opinion, we have not
necessarily independently verified those factual statements, nor the veracity of
those representations, but we have no reason to doubt their truth or accuracy.

Based on the foregoing it is our opinion that after the Commission has declared
the Registration Statement to be effective (such Registration Statement as is





                       CHARLES ADAMS, RITCHIE & DUCKWORTH


finally declared effective and the form of Prospectus contained in it being
referred to in this opinion as "the Registration Statement" and "the Prospectus"
respectively) and when the provisions of all applicable United Sates Federal and
State laws have been complied with, the Securities, when issued and sold in
accordance with the terms disclosed in the Registration Statement, will on
receipt of full payment for them, constitute under the laws of the Cayman
Islands legally issued Securities, fully paid and non-assessable.

This opinion is issued on the basis that it will be construed in accordance with
the provisions of the laws of the Cayman Islands and will not give rise to any
action in any other jurisdiction.

We consent to the use of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration
Statement and to the reference to this law firm in the Prospectus under the
heading "Legal Matters". In giving this consent, we do not admit that we are in
the category of persons whose consent we understand is required under Section 7
of the Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated under it.

Yours faithfully,

CHARLES ADAMS, RITCHIE & DUCKWORTH

SIGNED