Photo: Muntasir du (public domain), via Wikimedia Commons
The island depends on groundwater, and a study found germs in many samples. Here's how to stay safe and cut plastic at the same time.
Saint Martin's is a small coral island with no river, so water is a real concern. Here's what's known and how we handle it at El Marena Eco Resort near Chera Dip.
Where the water comes from
A University of Dhaka study found the island relies only on groundwater, from shallow aquifers 1 to 7 m below the ground. Chemically it was suitable for drinking, but E. coli bacteria were found in 58% of samples in the dry season and 44% in the wet season, mainly blamed on septic tanks from unplanned building (Dhaka University Journal of Earth and Environmental Sciences).
Staying safe
- Drink bottled or properly treated water, not water straight from a well or tap.
- Brush your teeth with bottled water if your stomach is sensitive.
- Eat food that's freshly cooked and hot; go easy on raw salads and cut fruit.
- Pack ORS in case of an upset stomach.
At El Marena
Bottled drinking water is free for our guests. To cut down on plastic, bring a reusable bottle and fill it from the larger bottles rather than buying lots of small ones.
Using water carefully
- Keep showers short: the island's groundwater is limited.
- Turn taps off properly.
- Take empty bottles back to the mainland or put them in the resort's bins.
See also our medical help and packing list articles.
