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Joined: Mar 2017
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Saw a thread talking about sewage seepage into Great Bay. Is this still an issue? Does it affect Little Bay or other areas?
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No issue in Little Bay, that I am aware of.
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Little bay tests the water regularly and always comes up with a great report
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Not sure what story you are speaking about, but there is a place right by Great Bay Beach Resort where they regularly discharge water from the Salt Pond into Great Bay, whenever there have been big rains. I don't think it's sewage per se, but there are often posted notices not to swim in Great Bay during those times. That is quite a ways from Little Bay though.
Carol Hill
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Think about all the boats and cruise ships in Great Bay. You see little of that in Little Bay. If I were going to make a choice between the two, it would be pretty easy. You also have the run-off or pumping issue from the Salt Pond along with the various waterfront businesses on Great Bay.
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So I guess its safe to assume this is no longer a problem?
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I've been the the water every day, no pronlesm.
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Which "this" are you referring to? If you're talking about the release of water from the salt ponds into Great Bay after heavy rains, that happens periodically. As far as pollution from land in general, most places in the Caribbean, SXM included, do not have sewage plants up to the level of those in the US. Again, if you are staying in Little Bay, which is what I understood, pollution in Great Bay should have no affect on you.
Carol Hill
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Yes I am referring to the sewage that drains into Great Bay. How can it not seep into Little Bay if they are so close? I guess my main concern is the drinking water if it comes from the ocean. I am just trying to understand. This will be my first time on the island and I like learning all I can before I go so I am well prepared. Looking very forward to this trip 
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The drinking water is desalinated ocean water. Purified and germ free. Heck, in Oregon they are making beer out of the water from the sewage treatment plant and it's totally safe. When in doubt, drink beer. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/toast.gif" alt="" />
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Kabs,
I don't know if this will help or not but I've been coming to this island every year and multiple times per year since 1973 and we do swim there upon occasion as do thousands of others every week. I've never had an issue of any sort and I've opted to stay in town on occasion and make that my home base beach though we do travel all over the island for daily beaching.
It's great to be informed but I really think you're over thinking this whole issue and worrying needlessly about something that probably won't even happen while you're there.
The water from the salt pond doesn't spill over unless they're into a very heavy rain event and then it's only on a limited basis. The constant ebb and flow of the tides clears the water which is tested daily until it's okay to swim in. My understanding is that it's not raw sewage flowing in and I'm sure I'll be quickly corrected if I'm wrong, but I've also never seen residue on the beach there.
As far as the drinking water, no problem, Mon!
Respectfully,
pat
"Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat
them."
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Water from the tap in SXM is made from desalinated sea water, which is purified.
Don't worry, it will be fine..
Carol Hill
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pat said:
Kabs,
I don't know if this will help or not but I've been coming to this island every year and multiple times per year since 1973 and we do swim there upon occasion as do thousands of others every week. I've never had an issue of any sort and I've opted to stay in town on occasion and make that my home base beach though we do travel all over the island for daily beaching.
It's great to be informed but I really think you're over thinking this whole issue and worrying needlessly about something that probably won't even happen while you're there.
The water from the salt pond doesn't spill over unless they're into a very heavy rain event and then it's only on a limited basis. The constant ebb and flow of the tides clears the water which is tested daily until it's okay to swim in. My understanding is that it's not raw sewage flowing in and I'm sure I'll be quickly corrected if I'm wrong, but I've also never seen residue on the beach there.
As far as the drinking water, no problem, Mon! Pat, my friend, I'm going to have to disagree with you here. First, I do agree that drinking water is fine. Where did you find that water quality in the bay is tested daily? I would love to see that. There is another source of pollution on the other side of Great Bay in the Rolandus Canal, near Bobby's Marina. As for ebb and flow, sorry, but I'm going to steal a quote from my friend kal on another board: gary - I had not previously viewed your posts on the canal effluent into Great Bay. As always, you're spot on but just spending time observing and smelling those canals is a real eye opener.
Once the material enters into Great Bay it takes quite an effort for removal. Great Bay is an "enclosed embayment" where it is not favorable to purging. There isn't enough tidal sweeping for water exchange and topography just extends the retention time.
All in all, the water is gorgeous to observe, but there's no way to see contaminants in the parts per million (ppm) or even parts per thousand range. Look at the immediate shoreline of the canals just upstream of the Great Bay discharge point and notice all the "floating material". Not good!
gary
Look up and wave!
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Gary.....how does it not leak into Little Bay?
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Gary, No arguments here and good to know we at least agree regarding the quality of the drinking water. With regard to the other, I've actually read in the Daily Herald that the water is tested daily when these spillages take place and the advisement to swim or not swim there is given based on the testing. But then, it's the DH, and I will certainly concede to the expertise of those far more knowledgeable than I. As always, my friend, sometimes we agree and sometimes we disagree, but always in an agreeable manor. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />
Respectfully,
pat
"Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat
them."
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little bay is completely separate from great bay.kind of like hudson river and long island sound
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And then there's this gary
Look up and wave!
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