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towards a shortage of drinking water, emergency measures are increasing

Faced with a worrying increase in the salinity of drinking water, the town of Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni is organizing water distribution points for residents. From November 13, tap water will not be recommended for drinking and cooking. The ARS also issues recommendations for and Montsinéry-Tonnégrande.

Between the water tower and the dried-up Maroni, Saint-Laurent finds himself in search of a precarious balance for each drop.
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©Eric LEON

Tap water in Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni will be unfit for direct consumption from November 13 to 19. Due to the persistent drought, saltwater intrusion into the Maroni River has reached a worrying level, affecting the quality of water distributed to homes. The Regional Health Agency (ARS) strongly advises against using it for drinking and cooking food. However, it can still be used for domestic purposes such as hygiene and cleaning.


In the midst of the water crisis in Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni, residents are using filters to try to make tap water more drinkable in the face of the first traces of salinity.
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©Eric LEON

To alleviate this situation and meet the essential needs of residents, the municipality of Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni, in collaboration with the Société Guyanaise des Eaux (SGDE), is setting up drinking water distribution points. These points, accessible from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., are located in various neighborhoods, including the bus station, the Jacques Voyer school, the Charbonnière district, the Local Mission and the Tarcy high school. Residents can thus obtain drinking water without risk to their health.


As soon as certain supply points were established, the inhabitants of Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni began to fill their bottles to ensure their supply of drinking water.
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©Eric LEON

This exceptional situation is causing a rush for bottled water in supermarkets. Residents, worried about their supplies, are raiding the shelves of premium brands, which are now sold out. Stéphane, supermarket manager of Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni, testifies:

We have seen a high demand for water, especially this weekend. Customers are now switching to more expensive brands.

Faced with this shortage in stores, Katia, a customer, explains:


Katia, a mother, prefers to anticipate by stocking up on water
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©Eric LEON

I prefer to stock up now before the situation deteriorates further. We don't know how long it will last

Vladie, also a resident of the city, confirms this concern:


Vladie, also a mother, expresses her concern: “With the shortage of drinking water, it is better to stock up while there is some left.”
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©Eric LEON

With the news about salt water in the taps, everyone is stressed. I bought what I could before it got even more complicated.

The water crisis also affects schools in Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni. The STEG-UTG, the education workers' union, denounces the insufficient ration of one 1.5 liter bottle for three students and calls for a temporary closure of establishments. He urges parents to keep their children at home until the health situation has stabilized, denouncing “institutional mistreatment” towards students and educational staff.


Anaël, deputy general secretary of STEG-UTG, mobilized to defend the rights of residents and workers in the face of the water crisis in Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni.
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©Eric LEON

Until the situation is officially resolved, we call on parents to keep their children at home and staff to exercise their right of withdrawal.

affirms STEG-UTG in a press release.

If Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni faces a direct salinity problem linked to the Maroni river, the situation is different for Matoury and Montsinéry-Tonnégrande. The ARS indicates that the water remains drinkable for the majority of residents. However, as a precautionary measure, it advises people suffering from stage 4 or 5 kidney failure, residing in certain areas, not to consume tap water. The areas concerned are:

  • The RD5 and the town of Tonégrande,
  • Stoupan and Mogès in Matoury,
  • The Lamirande sector and the town of Matoury,
  • The Eboué Airport sector in Matoury.

In collaboration with dialysis centers, the Communauté d'Agglomération du Center Littoral (CACL) organizes the distribution of bottled water for patients requiring dialysis, in order to ensure their safety.

The ARS monitoring unit, bringing together state services, local authorities and the SGDE, ensures continuous monitoring of the situation. Regular checks are carried out to assess changes in salinity and adapt the recommendations accordingly. The authorities hope for an improvement by the end of the week, depending on weather conditions and the level of the Maroni River.

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