THE HAGUE--The Dutch Government and the public entity Saba will continue to work toward a structural solution to increase the storage capacity of potable water on the island and to improve the water distribution.
Dutch Minister of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations Ronald Plasterk stated this in a letter on Wednesday, in response to written questions submitted by Member of the Second Chamber of the Dutch Parliament Ronald van Raak of the Socialist Party (SP).
Van Raak sought clarity from the minister late July, at the time when Saba, but also St. Eustatius was facing a severe drought which had a large impact on residents and the private sector. Plasterk took some time to respond, also on behalf of his colleagues Ministers of Infrastructure and Environment, and of Defence, because it took more time to gather all necessary information.
The Governments of the Netherlands and Saba are working together to structurally improve the water facilities and the availability of affordable (drinking) water in Saba. This doesn’t take away the fact that the Netherlands will keep the possibilities open to have potable water transported to Saba by the Dutch Marines when this is requested by Saba.
Government will surely take such a request very seriously, stated Plasterk, who explained that so far no request for assistance had been filed by Saba and that at this moment there was also no such emergency scenario at hand.
The Minister didn’t exclude that Defence would again be asked for assistance if in the future an emergency situation should arise as had happened during the extreme drought in 2009 and 2013. He said that the occasional transport of potable water was “of course” not a structural solution.
That structural solution is being worked on at this moment. Plasterk explained that the drinking water programme, which was drafted together with the Saba Government in 2013, is mainly geared toward the increasing of the storage capacity of potable and greywater, as well as the improving of the distribution via water pipes.
A large greywater storage facility is currently under construction in Windwardside. The facility, which should be completed this year, can hold 125,000 gallons (close to 500,000 litres) for public use. An additional pipeline will be laid at the Bottom to pump water to the existing public storage.
Also, two additional storage facilities with a capacity of 75,000 gallons (close to 300,000 litres) each will be constructed, while the water storage under the school in St. John’s will be enlarged. “With this additional storage capacity, the two potable water companies will be able to constantly produce to prevent problems during a dry spell,” stated Plasterk.
Asked by Van Raak why it was taking so long to realise sufficient water storage capacity, also considering the recurring dry spells, Plasterk explained that this mainly had to do with the natural circumstances in Saba.
The Minister clarified that the island has insufficient potable water sources, no natural storage capacity for rain water and that the hard, rocky soil makes it hard to construct artificial storage capacity and water pipes.
Additionally, the current companies presently producing water have a limited production storage capacity. Now, with the financial support of the Dutch Government, it has become possible for the Saba Government to expand the storage capacity.
Stating that an affordable, high-quality drinking water facility in Saba was crucial for the residents and private sector, Plasterk emphasized that this was a top priority of the Dutch Government and the public entity Saba.
The cost of water should go down once the potable water programme has been completed. Also, the Saba Government recently announced an emergency subsidy to reduce the water price by US $20 per 1,000 gallons for residents. People with a low income, below US $834 per month, can apply for special assistance from the Dutch Ministry of Social Affairs and Labour to get their cistern filled.
Referring to the effect of the dry spell on Saba’s Organoponics Farm, which Van Raak inquired about, Plasterk stated that he had no indications that the project was in danger due to the higher water price that it had to pay. He said that naturally the cost for the project increased as long as no rain fell.
