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Questions. Is SXM tap water safe and is ok for restaurants refuse to serve it?? #181973
01/26/2019 08:00 PM
01/26/2019 08:00 PM
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 638
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foreversxm Offline OP
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foreversxm  Offline OP
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We have been going to St Maarten for over 20 years and never had any problems drinking the tap water. A few years ago one of our favorite restaurants started refusing to sever tab water but would gladly sell you a $6 bottle. Not trying to be cheap but being family of 6 at times buying table water adds up the bill so we stopped going to that restaurant. Now this trip another of our favorite restaurants started the same policy saying the water is not safe and don’t serve it so dinner guest don’t blame the food when it’s the water. Seems to be a trend of more and more restaurants. So the question is do most people think with water is safe and would you pay or mind to pay for the bottled water? 💦

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Re: Questions. Is SXM tap water safe and is ok for restaurants refuse to serve it?? [Re: foreversxm] #181974
01/26/2019 08:14 PM
01/26/2019 08:14 PM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,482
Central Florida!
Carol_Hill Offline
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Carol_Hill  Offline
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Central Florida!
To ME, I think the water in SXM is perfectly safe to drink. We usually drink wine with dinner and a couple of glasses of water. We buy one bottle of water per meal, no more. No idea how much they charge for that bottle.


Carol Hill
Re: Questions. Is SXM tap water safe and is ok for restaurants refuse to serve it?? [Re: foreversxm] #181975
01/26/2019 08:18 PM
01/26/2019 08:18 PM
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 2,000
North Kingstown, Rhode Island
RI Bob C Offline
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RI Bob C  Offline
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Like you, we have been going to the island for over 20 years and have never had a problem drinking the water in the places we stay. As to drinking the water in a restaurant we normally have wine or beer. Do the restaurants you favor use bottled water to make their ice? Most bars we frequent do use bottled water to make a drink like scotch and water. I suspect that the cost of tap water may have something to do with their use of bottled water since customers would be upset if they were charged for a simple glass.

Last edited by Bob_Dot; 01/26/2019 08:20 PM. Reason: typo
Re: Questions. Is SXM tap water safe and is ok for restaurants refuse to serve it?? [Re: foreversxm] #181976
01/26/2019 08:45 PM
01/26/2019 08:45 PM
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 3,278
Maryland/DC Metro
BeachKitten Offline
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BeachKitten  Offline
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Maryland/DC Metro
I can understand that for a family of 6 that would add up. I typically always have my own litre in my bag. Have never had an issue with keeping it on the floor near the table in casual restaurants....heck, at Zee Best, Kakao, Bikini, and the yacht club I even keep it on the table. No worries. No one has EVER said anything to me.

As we drink wine, we don't deal with ice cubes or anything like that. We do not get tap water, but that's just us. I will get a bottle of flat in a nicer establishment, but for two persons that is manageable.


"It is good to do nothing all day, and then to rest" wink
Re: Questions. Is SXM tap water safe and is ok for restaurants refuse to serve it?? [Re: foreversxm] #181979
01/26/2019 09:29 PM
01/26/2019 09:29 PM
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 933
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SammyM Offline
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SammyM  Offline
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Never had an issue with tap water in St. Martin or any of the other nearby islands. Now, Mexico is a much different story. Sounds like they're simply trying to get you to spend $6 on something that is typically free of charge. If the water was an issue, then it would extend beyond drinking tap water. For example, when you eat a salad they would wash the lettuce (hopefully) in tap water and that would still cause potential digestive problems. So would ice cubes, etc. I wouldn't worry too much about this when visiting SXM, but for Mexico (Cancun, Tulum, etc.) we take probiotics one month before and after our visits. We never have done this for St. Martin.

Re: Questions. Is SXM tap water safe and is ok for restaurants refuse to serve it?? [Re: foreversxm] #181982
01/26/2019 10:01 PM
01/26/2019 10:01 PM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 1,370
Hershey, Pennsylvania
Tom Offline
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Tom  Offline
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It's 30+ years for us and have heard this question many times. It is my understanding that most or all SXM tap water is from desalination facilities and is completely safe. I personally believe that as already stated, the additional profit for selling bottled water is based on $ and not any problems with tap water.

Re: Questions. Is SXM tap water safe and is ok for restaurants refuse to serve it?? [Re: Tom] #181987
01/26/2019 10:24 PM
01/26/2019 10:24 PM
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 18,571
Auburn, WA
SXMScubaman Offline
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SXMScubaman  Offline
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Auburn, WA
Originally Posted by Tom
It's 30+ years for us and have heard this question many times. It is my understanding that most or all SXM tap water is from desalination facilities and is completely safe. I personally believe that as already stated, the additional profit for selling bottled water is based on $ and not any problems with tap water.

Correct. Just a way to make more money. One time in toppers I needed to take a pill. Asked for a glass of water and they would only sell me a small bottle for 3 bucks. Greed.

Re: Questions. Is SXM tap water safe and is ok for restaurants refuse to serve it?? [Re: foreversxm] #182010
01/27/2019 10:28 AM
01/27/2019 10:28 AM
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 103
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Susieville Offline
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Susieville  Offline
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I always drink the tap water. No problem and I have a sensitive stomach

Re: Questions. Is SXM tap water safe and is ok for restaurants refuse to serve it?? [Re: foreversxm] #182011
01/27/2019 10:33 AM
01/27/2019 10:33 AM
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,476
Ohio
ruralcarrier Offline
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ruralcarrier  Offline
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Ohio
Tap water on the Dutch side is fine. Some places want to sell a $1 bottle of water for $6 to add to their bottom line. I can do without water with most meals but others do want it so many times you are stuck with the expensive bottled water.


J.D.
Re: Questions. Is SXM tap water safe and is ok for restaurants refuse to serve it?? [Re: foreversxm] #182013
01/27/2019 10:39 AM
01/27/2019 10:39 AM
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 5,262
Kennys Offline
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Kennys  Offline
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My Wife only do sparkling water .

Re: Questions. Is SXM tap water safe and is ok for restaurants refuse to serve it?? [Re: foreversxm] #182057
01/27/2019 05:18 PM
01/27/2019 05:18 PM
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 391
San Antonio
sumbeach Offline
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sumbeach  Offline
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San Antonio
Not only ice cubes, but I would guess coffee, tea, and any other drinks that need water probably use tap water. And I would imagine they wash the dishes in the same. We have drank it several times with no problem but still usually order the $6 bottle, dont ask me why. I would think that if the water was a problem that half the island would be sick.


Dan
Re: Questions. Is SXM tap water safe and is ok for restaurants refuse to serve it?? [Re: foreversxm] #182058
01/27/2019 05:32 PM
01/27/2019 05:32 PM
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 5,262
Kennys Offline
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Kennys  Offline
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Just got very important info about the sparkling water and this will stop because of health reason.

Re: Questions. Is SXM tap water safe and is ok for restaurants refuse to serve it?? [Re: foreversxm] #182066
01/27/2019 08:32 PM
01/27/2019 08:32 PM
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 467
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bizzottom Offline
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was at the DIVI Nov 24-dec 1, and water had a very salty taste,....bot big bottles at carefour or wherever to make coffee

Re: Questions. Is SXM tap water safe and is ok for restaurants refuse to serve it?? [Re: Kennys] #182072
01/27/2019 10:35 PM
01/27/2019 10:35 PM
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 2,668
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LBI2SXM Offline
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LBI2SXM  Offline
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Originally Posted by Kennys
Just got very important info about the sparkling water and this will stop because of health reason.


What??

Re: Questions. Is SXM tap water safe and is ok for restaurants refuse to serve it?? [Re: foreversxm] #182075
01/28/2019 05:33 AM
01/28/2019 05:33 AM
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 18,561
St Maarten
BillandElaine Offline
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BillandElaine  Offline
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St Maarten
Been drinking tap water every day for years, with no issues. Please don't buy the bottled stuff. There's no room at the dump for it and people are too lazy to recycle.


Elaine
*********************************
God Bless the broken road....
Re: Questions. Is SXM tap water safe and is ok for restaurants refuse to serve it?? [Re: BillandElaine] #182077
01/28/2019 07:13 AM
01/28/2019 07:13 AM
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,476
Ohio
ruralcarrier Offline
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ruralcarrier  Offline
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Ohio
Very good point Elaine.


J.D.
Re: Questions. Is SXM tap water safe and is ok for restaurants refuse to serve it?? [Re: foreversxm] #182089
01/28/2019 09:55 AM
01/28/2019 09:55 AM
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 41
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Airlegs Offline
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Airlegs  Offline
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I totally agree about the plastic bottle situation. If the water tastes good, do tap and also use longer life plastics to refill. Our specific problem wasn’t that we didn’t trust the water. It was that our building was older and the pipes obviously old too. The water tasted disgusting and was cloudy. Solution was to invest in a water filtration system with carbon filter that you usually change only once per year. The difference is amazing in clarity as well as taste. I am an avid water consumer (7 liters per day) so it’s very important to me.

Re: Questions. Is SXM tap water safe and is ok for restaurants refuse to serve it?? [Re: BillandElaine] #182100
01/28/2019 11:45 AM
01/28/2019 11:45 AM
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 18,571
Auburn, WA
SXMScubaman Offline
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SXMScubaman  Offline
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Originally Posted by BillandElaine
Been drinking tap water every day for years, with no issues. Please don't buy the bottled stuff. There's no room at the dump for it and people are too lazy to recycle.

Isn't the local bottled water just the same as tap water anyway.

Re: Questions. Is SXM tap water safe and is ok for restaurants refuse to serve it?? [Re: foreversxm] #182115
01/28/2019 01:45 PM
01/28/2019 01:45 PM
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 18,561
St Maarten
BillandElaine Offline
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BillandElaine  Offline
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Posts: 18,561
St Maarten
Yep.


Elaine
*********************************
God Bless the broken road....
Re: Questions. Is SXM tap water safe and is ok for restaurants refuse to serve it?? [Re: foreversxm] #182118
01/28/2019 02:04 PM
01/28/2019 02:04 PM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,666
MIA
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irina Offline
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irina  Offline
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MIA
We had a PUR water filter on our tap and a Brita pitcher. All for show!
Water is fine.
Cheers
irina

Re: Questions. Is SXM tap water safe and is ok for restaurants refuse to serve it?? [Re: foreversxm] #182122
01/28/2019 02:29 PM
01/28/2019 02:29 PM
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Posts: 41
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Airlegs Offline
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Airlegs  Offline
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It’s not for show for me. It’s necessary. Even our toilet was stained within 1 year of being replaced with weekly heavy cleaning with chloro. Stained from the water. My sister in law is a nutritionist/biologist and works for the military. She’s seen so many varying results of tap water samples all over the world. A filter is more peace of mind, for me at least. As far as bottled water (imported) it’s much different because of ph and minerals, if you care about those things. Expensive but for a reason. Quality. Totally agree though that restaurants WAY OVERCHARGE.

Re: Questions. Is SXM tap water safe and is ok for restaurants refuse to serve it?? [Re: foreversxm] #182129
01/28/2019 03:49 PM
01/28/2019 03:49 PM
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 454
New York
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dcarol Offline
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New York
A few years ago we were at Paris Bistro and I asked for tap water since I am not a big water fan and was told they did not have any??? So I asked them if they had sinks at the restaurant, he said yes and I said to get the water from the sink. He kept saying no and I won out.


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