MARIGOT--President Daniel Gibbs has officially lifted the restriction on drinking city water from the taps in St. Martin with a decree signed on December 16.
The regional health authority ARS had already confirmed the water was potable again following laboratory tests done to measure the reduction of bromates in the network.
ARS confirmed city water now conforms to the strict standards and criteria for public health following a treatment with the disinfectant chlorine dioxide. The tests indicated a reduced bromate level of five milligrams per litre (mg/l), well below the regulation level for consumption of 10mg/l.
The presence of bromates in the city water was discovered in June following a control by ARS services on the distribution networks. The highest bromate levels were found at the ends of the network (Terres-Basses, Oyster Pond) at more than 200mg/l.
Water authority EEASM, the Collectivité, ARS and the Préfecture committed themselves to finding a sustainable solution. The reduction of bromate pollution in St. Martin required six months of investigation at a cost of nearly 400,000 euros.
