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After the devastating passage of Hurricane Irma in September 2017, several hotels on Saint-Barthélemy took the decision to equip themselves with more efficient sanitation systems. A most commendable move, but one that quickly led to an ever-increasing influx of sludge to be treated up to the Gustavia wastewater treatment plant (Step), already deemed undersized for the island's needs. Since then, the population has continued to grow, further exacerbating the difficulties of the Step, operated by Saur. The almost permanent saturation of the plant means that there is an urgent need to build a second infrastructure.
This possibility has been raised at several territorial councils. Including the most recent, during which the 2025 budget was adopted. For the time being, however, the project is still on the drawing board. A wastewater master plan has yet to be drawn up by the local authorities. The location of the new plant will also have to be determined. Although the Saint-Jean district has been mentioned, it seems that the exact location will be in the commercial zone. The project will have to be forward-looking, to ensure that the plant does not suffer the same ills as the one in Gustavia.
A plant in constant demand
The current wastewater treatment plant has a capacity of 3,500 population equivalents (p.e.). It is a modern system that ensures high-performance wastewater treatment and meets the strict environmental standards essential for preserving Saint-Barthélemy's natural environment. However, the reality on the ground far exceeds this sizing. Outside the tourist season, the island's permanent population of around 12,000 is already more than three times the plant's capacity, depending on the amount of incoming waste.
Most of the plant's "pollution load" comes from the septage and septic tanks emptied daily by the island's two hydro-cleaning companies. This liquid waste is systematically sent to the Gustavia plant for treatment. Hotels and tourist establishments, although equipped with their own facilities, also transfer their sludge to the plant for treatment and dewatering. These external inputs, combined with the already substantial domestic flow, contribute to chronic overloading of the plant. And there's another complicating factor: rainfall.
In the event of heavy rainfall, the sewage network is overwhelmed by large volumes of water. The plant cannot absorb these peak flows. Although these are only momentary overloads, they create a high risk of overflows and inadequately treated wastewater, with direct consequences for the quality of the natural environment and compliance with standards. Saint-Barthélemy is therefore in urgent need of a new wastewater treatment plant or, as an alternative, a sewage treatment plant.
As mentioned above, Saur and the Collectivité's departments will be working together to establish the feasibility of the project, and above all to determine the ideal size of the structure. This will enable us to anticipate population growth, whether domestic or tourist, as well as various climatic contingencies. A priority, in short.
