Kralendijk 1 December 2025 – Water – en Energiebedrijf Bonaire (WEB) acknowledges the concerns within the farming community of Bonaire and aims to communicate transparently about them. WEB has taken note of these concerns and emphasizes that the drinking water delivered via water trucks is primarily intended for household use. The water distribution system by truck is not designed to guarantee a continuous capacity for industrial use or for specialized agriculture, such as hydroponic cultivation, which requires a high, constant, and sensitive demand for drinking water.
We regret that there are farmers who have not received the desired amount of water needed to maintain their farm, and we understand their frustration. WEB has the responsibility to ensure the continuity and availability of drinking water in an equal manner for all farmers. WEB is doing its utmost to meet the delivery of 3–6 cubic meters per farm that submits a request; if available, more water can be supplied.
WEB emphasizes the following:
- Currently, there are 268 farmers living outside the regular drinking water network who submit requests to receive water via trucks.
- WEB has a delivery capacity of 79 cubic meters per day, with a total of three trucks: one with a capacity of 8 cubic meters and two with a capacity of 6 cubic meters each.
- WEB ensures that every farmer receives at least 3 – 6 cubic meters, according to the weekly schedule followed by the WEB trucks to meet the needs of the farms. When maintenance needs to be carried out on the trucks or when difficulties arise, WEB does everything possible to supply all farmers with water by delivering a minimum of 3 cubic meters, ensuring that they have sufficient water for their activities
- The schedule used by WEB to distribute water among all 268 farmers consists of a combination of farms who receive weekly deliveries and those who request water as needed.
- For larger water demands, a different system is required. In such cases, the kunukero may consider installing a water connection via the pipeline network, which guarantees a continuous supply and is suitable for industrial production.
- WEB’s water quality is high, is regularly monitored, and meets both local and international drinking water standards.
- WEB intends to contact kunukeros who do not yet have a connection point for the water connection on their property, in order to have this installed within a specified period. This is to ensure that WEB can access and fill the water tank at any time without restrictions or obstacles, and to guarantee a hygienic delivery for all customers.
The challenges that have arisen are not related to water quality, but to distribution capacity and logistical limitations. These present a real challenge, as the outlying areas have experienced significant development in housing, tourism, and industry within a relatively short period. To address this challenge, WEB will invest in 2026 in expanding delivery capacity with two trucks of 8 cubic meters each. The choice for 8-cubic-meter trucks was made because they are easier to maneuver in the remote kunuku areas.
WEB is working together with the OLB to find structural solutions for the agricultural sector.