GEBE increases purchase
of water from French side
~ Enerserve pump breaks down again ~
PHILIPSBURG--After Dutch side water supply company GEBE decreased in March the amount of water it was purchasing from French St. Martin, Finance Commissioner Roy Marlin had to request an increase of the amount again on Tuesday. He said the water supply situation on the island should be stable.
During a meeting between GEBE management and the Executive Council on Tuesday, GEBE asked to start rationing water because of insufficient reserves.
Marlin said during Wednesday’s Executive Council press briefing that he had spoken on Tuesday with newly elected French side president Louis-Constant Fleming, who had again increased the amount of water being received from the French side.
Government will also start purchasing from Aqua Design again. “They had a breakdown last week, but are scheduled to be back up by Friday,” Marlin said.
According to the Commissioner, Enerserve was performing maintenance on Tuesday when one of its pumps went out. Marlin referred to discussions earlier this year in the Island Council and stated once more that Enerserve had not been living up to its contractual obligations.
He said in addition that Enerserve still had not been able to produce the amount of water stated in the company’s contract. “Enerserve should be able to deliver 12,500m3 for at least 15 days per month, but that capacity is just not there.”
Regarding GEBE’s proposal to ration water, Marlin said he believed the company should step up its awareness of water conservation programme instead. He also believes GEBE should be solving the problem of water loss. “If we bring back the water loss with one percentage point a day, we are talking about 100 tons of water,” he said.
