During the recent public meeting regarding the situation of AWSS (Aruba Wastewater Sustainable Solutions), it became clear that Aruba is facing a serious risk that cannot be ignored. Minister Dowers, responsible for the state company AWSS, has unfortunately demonstrated that there is still no concrete or sustainable plan to address the urgent problem of wastewater treatment.
The Critical Situation of the Bubali Plant AWSS is the entity that, since 2024, has been in charge of wastewater treatment and management in Aruba. Their primary job is to purify used water, prevent environmental pollution, and protect public health. The treatment plant at Bubali, one of our country’s most critical infrastructures, has been functional for several decades but is now considered outdated and incapable of meeting current and future demands.
During the meeting, the MEP Faction presented a motion highlighting that:
The Bubali plant is old and does not meet the necessary capacity for Aruba;
There are continuous problems with unpleasant odors and the discharge of insufficient quality water into the sea;
There is a real risk of failure in the installations;
Since 2017, significant expenses have been made, but most were for temporary solutions;
In 2022, a comprehensive plan was presented with the participation of Royal HaskoningDHV, but it was never implemented;
The lack of action increases the risk of environmental, economic, and public health damage.
The motion also called for the government to:
Within six (6) weeks, present a comprehensive, concrete, and sustainable plan for the Bubali plant;
Base the plan on existing studies or present an equal or better alternative;
Provide clarity on financing, execution phases, and risk management.
Unfortunately, this motion did not receive support from the AVP and FUTURO members of parliament. They voted against it, even though the urgency of the situation is evident, as the Bubali plant can be considered “a bomb waiting to explode,” with a serious potential impact on our tourism, environment, public health, and economy in general.
“We make an urgent call for Minister Dowers and AWSS to act quickly and present a sustainable plan. Aruba cannot continue to depend on temporary solutions while the problem keeps growing,” Maduro expressed.
