WILLEMSTAD - A controversial proposal by the Coral Estate Board has raised alarm among homeowners and residents. The board recently outlined a NAf 400,000 plan to maintain and expand the resort’s malfunctioning water treatment system. This system, which treats sewage into "grey water," has long faced issues, and there is now a risk of treated sewage, or grey water, being dumped throughout the resort, including in green areas near homes.
Note: While the board refers to it as “grey water,” residents argue that in Coral Estate, all sewage flows through the same pipes to the plant, making this residue more accurately described as “black water,” which is both unhealthy and foul-smelling.
Health and Environmental Threats
The proposed plan to dump sewage water poses several risks for the Coral Estate community:
Health Hazards: Dumping grey water near residential areas could create serious public health risks. Stagnant, contaminated water serves as a breeding ground for mosquitoes, increasing the likelihood of diseases like dengue spreading through the community.
Unpleasant Odors: The malfunctioning system already produces foul-smelling water. Spreading this untreated water across the resort would further degrade the quality of life for residents, who would be subjected to unbearable stench.
Impact on Property Values: The presence of raw sewage near homes could significantly decrease property values. Potential buyers may be deterred by both the health risks and foul odors.
Unfair Distribution of Dumping
Adding to the controversy is the exclusion of certain areas from the sewage dumping plan—specifically, near the homes of the Board’s chairman and another board member. These locations, while suitable for sewage discharge, have been omitted from the plan, raising questions about fairness and transparency in decision-making.
Underlying Issues and Community Concerns
The problem runs deeper than sewage alone. The current board has reportedly "assigned" votes to developers who are not homeowners, allowing these votes to control key decisions, including the possibility of voting out the existing board. Some residents believe these votes were illegally assigned, which raises concerns about the board’s ability to prioritize the community’s best interests.
Resident Action Needed
While the board stresses that maintaining the Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) is crucial, the proposed solution—dumping sewage in different green areas nightly—has left many residents worried about lingering health risks and the foul odors. Despite some adjustments being made to improve water quality, the risks remain high.
Homeowners and residents are encouraged to attend the General Meeting on September 1st, where they can express their concerns and advocate for alternative solutions that prioritize the health and well-being of the community.
Developers' Responsibility and Historical Context
The current situation stems from an inadequate sewage plant initially built by the developers, which was never scaled to suit the project’s size. Years ago, the developers sold the faulty plant to the homeowners' association for just 1 guilder. Under the developer-influenced board, the plant has consistently malfunctioned. Now, homeowners bear the consequences of what many perceive as developer greed.
There is no alternative plan until a proper engineering solution is presented to the association. The motivation behind the current proposal appears to be driven by plans to build more houses.
