TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin More water woes on French side

Water information for those coming in June to stay on French side. This was in the newspaper Le Pelican
PRODUCTION STOPPAGES IN JUNE
In addition, the EEASM and Saur point out that "water consumption has been steadily increasing for several months, handicapping the capacity to replenish drinking water stocks, as water production is largely used to meet demand".
The situation is not expected to improve since "the construction phase that will start in June 2023 will require the punctual shutdown of the production of drinking water on weekly slots of twenty-four hours". In other words, water production will be shut down for a full day once a week. "An additional mobile water treatment unit will be set up at the beginning of June for the duration of the work, in order to compensate for the production deficit during this work".
Finally, the EEASM announces that it "is currently studying the increase in the plant's production capacity for commissioning at the end of 2024".

So many problems on the French side. We love the beaches over there. I hate to bash them but over and over problems and people must be aware of the problems but still keep staying over there and then complain. People it’s Groundhog Day everyday. Don’t think it’s gonna stop when you are there. Book a place with a big cistern and generator or stay on the Dutch side. IMO

So true.

More on this subject from SAUR Saint-Martin .
"Friday, May 12, 2023 - Restriction of drinking water distribution in the Oriental Bay Park sector -----------
For several weeks, SAUR Saint-Martin teams have seen a very strong increase in online losses on the private network of the Bay Oriental Park. These daily losses of drinking water, which the territory desperately needs, are estimated to be more than 600 m3 (600,000 litres) per day, or just under 10% of current daily production capacity.
Given the facts, it’s important to understand that the tensions over the public drinking water service for too many weeks can be attributed to four major causes:
- A production tool that no longer meets the territorial need in terms of consumption volumes and on which work is planned,
- Too recurring "outbreaks" in the network related to the network's weariness and a lack of renewal,
- Online losses that can be colossal on the private networks of certain condominiums,
- Water flights in large quantities, on which increased vigilance is now imposed.
In the particular case of the Oriental Bay Park, it also appears that the condominium management bodies, despite the court decisions, are cultivating a debt, which today reaches €2.8 million; a debt that strongly affects the investment capacity of the EEASM, which, on this amount, is a collector. different taxes levied on the public water service.
Faced with this situation of tension that penalizes all subscribers and especially those who are at the end of the network, SAUR Saint-Martin is forced to drastically reduce the distribution of drinking water on the Bay Oriental Park.
Conscious of the economic issues and respecting the energy deployed by professionals who have not been spared in recent years between Irma, the health crisis, sargasm failures and the inevitable water cuts, SAUR Saint-Martin will arrange hourly drinking water distribution beaches in line with the needs of the professionals as private subscribers, as follows:
- From 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m.
- From 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
- From 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m
These measures will remain in place as long as the volume of leaks on this private network jeopardizes the power of the entire territory. SAUR Saint-Martin invites the condominium management agencies to take exact measures of the situation and to stop any manipulation on the general account that will be the subject of daily and random changes.
In this time of intense heat and low rain that lead tank users to rely on the public drinking water supply network, it is important that we collectively and for the benefit of distribution to all, be vigilant about our use of the resource and respects the restrictive measures taken by order of the President of the Collective and still in force.
SAUR Saint-Martin asks those who among its subscribers respect their contractual obligations and citizen duties to apologize for the inconvenience caused by these measures which are unfortunately made necessary for the service rendered well for the benefit of all the public."

You got that right.

Another problem is the system is old and the pipes break and cause a huge amount of water loss. We have friends that own property and they can’t control the water pressure properly so at night the pressure spikes and breaks pipes. That happens often and people end up with $10, 000 euros water bills.

Is there a water problem at Grand Case Beach Club or do they have their own water system?

They have their own system.

Anybody have an idea what a "distribution beach" is?

A while back they had places to pick up water. Maybe they set a distribution place on a beach?

Scuba,
The distribution schedule you posted above was shared with us when we checked in on Friday through the rental agency.

- From 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m.
- From 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
- From 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m

These were supposed to be the hours that the water would be available so you could plan accordingly rather than hope or guess when it would come back on. So far, it’s worked pretty good. The early time frame appears to be the hardest one for them to hit accurately. Sometimes it’s 7am before we get the service but not as bad as hoping for water and then having no pressure and just getting a trickle. We’re renting a townhome in Orient Village two rows off the beach with a small pool this time for the first half of our two weeks before heading to BSV. Still enjoying the short walk to the Village restaurants and Orange Fever! The short dive to the Grand Case restaurants is the other bonus of staying here! Worth the water hassles for us.

Wow. I had wondered if this was an infrastructure issue. Having been on the receiving end of a $700 water bill once (thankfully it was the water companies fault, whew), I would faint dead away if I got a 10k water bill in the mail.

Good to hear real life on the ground info about how this is effecting people and businesses day to day. Husband and I have had to cancel 2 trips this year already due to life (and sadly death.) We are looking at early next year for our next attempt.

Good to read your thoughts and experience. Last time we were staying near Orient Village we had a few water shut offs. First one took us by surprise, after that we kept several old water bottles filled next to the toilets and plenty in the kitchen. Having a semi reliable schedule would have helped with showering etc so at least the time chart is helpful.

I am also two rows off Orient Beach and no water last night at 6:00 nor water this morning from 7:00 AM till now and it is 7:54 AM. I knew there were shortages but not this bad. But again like stated in an earlier post it is worth being close to great restaurants and a beautiful beach. I still think I am fortunate to be here.

Any thoughts to how the restaurant workers wash their hands before they prepare your food with no running water?

They better have bottled water or gloves........ I am going out tomorrow night for dinner. While I was at the beach the toilet tank filled up so I could flush it. I am going to the pool to take a bath (no soap).