Tuesday’s press conference in progress with officials from water distributor SAUR and the regional health agency ARS. (Photo Robert Luckock)
~ Update and latest results for St. Martin expected Monday ~
MARIGOT--The French-side’s regional health agency (ARS) disclosed Friday that testing of potable water in St. Martin was a consequence of the high levels of bromate found in St. Barths before the water crisis in St. Martin was announced, and that subsequent sampling of the water for the first time in four different areas of the public network in St. Martin, in the western basin, went “beyond” the normal mandatory testing protocols.
ARS public health technician Raymond Rozas explained to The Daily Herald that St. Barths had bromate levels three times higher than St. Martin, because it uses two different methods for desalination, reverse osmosis and boiling the water. It is thought too high a temperature in that latter process, in combination with a high PH (alkalinity) and the disinfecting process, caused bromide to transform into a high level of bromates.
The acceptable level of bromate in the water is 10 micrograms per litre. Rosaz said normally the levels are anywhere between four and under 10, and an ideal PH balance is 7, no acid no alkalinity.
“Bromate is a chemical element of Bromide which is naturally present in sea water, and the transformation or chemical reaction from bromide to bromate can occur through the reverse osmosis process in the disinfecting stage,” he said. “The way the water has been disinfected may be the cause of it in St. Martin. So, the water distributor/producer SAUR has to either adjust or find a different solution for disinfecting the water.
“Normally samples of the water are taken at the exit of the desalination plant before the water enters the public network (pipes). At this point you don’t usually find bromates but testing at that point is mandatory, whereas it is not obligatory to test anywhere else in the distribution network. The water producer now has to reduce the level of bromates in the water.
“Bromates cannot be removed from water as there is no known process or filters for that. Bromate is not a germ or bacteria, it’s a chemical. They (SAUR) have to implement a preventative treatment to stop the creation of bromates by modifying the way the water is disinfected.”
Rosaz said he did not believe the problem had anything to do with the change-over of water distributor Générale des Eaux to SAUR at the end of 2018, as all the processes and testing protocols would have been the same. He added that the disinfecting process has to be very balanced, not too much chlorine that could cause bromate formation, yet enough to ensure the water is free of germs.
The current water samples are being analysed in a laboratory in Guadeloupe. For now, an update is awaited from SAUR as to how it is treating the water and a timeline to when consumption will be permitted.
In order to prevent any risk, in particular for renal insufficiency, infants, the elderly and pregnant women, the following uses are prohibited: Drinking (including water in the form of ice cubes or other derivatives), cooking, brushing teeth, cleaning vegetables or any other food. Boiling water does not make bromates disappear. However, the water can be used for showers, toilets, and cleaning the house.
President Gibbs confirmed to the media that regular briefings would be made through the press in order to keep users informed of developments in a transparent manner.
A distribution of mineral water packs was immediately organised by SAUR, under the authority of Etablissement des Eaux et Assainissement de Saint-Martin (EEASM), for vulnerable people, the Central kitchen, schools, hospital and the senior citizens retirement home until further notice. About 20 families already listed by the Department of Solidarity and Families as being in great difficulty will also be part of the distribution system.
Since last Thursday and the receipt of the analyses carried out by ARS, the EEASM and its water provider SAUR have made every technical effort, both in the production and distribution processes, to substantially reduce the risk of bromates appearing in the distributed water. Several factors capable of influencing the chemical characteristics of water are being adjusted. In the meantime, the precautionary measures recommended by ARS must be respected.
