PHILIPSBURG--The stench that was in the air for a few days now has vanished, because of the water that was pumped into the Great Salt Pond, in the past days.

The pond level had dropped several inches because of the prolonged dry weather. The stench occurs when the water level drops and the water cannot circulate adequately.

At various times of the years, the Public Works Department has to pump water into the pond to bring up the level, in order to decrease the stench. The other measure includes pumping water out via the Rolandus Canal, in times of heavy rain.

This island, like other parts of the Caribbean, has been experiencing drought-like conditions for more than a month now. This was the cause for the decrease in the water level.