A new wastewater treatment facility featuring a planted filter station has been inaugurated in Vieux-Fort, Guadeloupe, addressing the region’s compliance issues, as over half of existing treatment plants fail to meet standards. Utilizing heliconia plants for filtration, the innovative system aims to improve environmental conditions while minimizing maintenance costs. Funded largely by a green initiative, this project represents a significant step toward sustainable sanitation solutions in the archipelago, with plans for further installations across municipalities.
Nestled within a vibrant housing development overlooking the stunning Caribbean Sea in Vieux-Fort, Guadeloupe, a groundbreaking facility has emerged: a gravel basin designed for wastewater treatment, soon to be adorned with beautiful paradise birds.
“This is what we refer to as a planted filter station,” explains Muriel Gruel, a technician from the mixed union for water management and sanitation in Guadeloupe (SMGEAG), during the inauguration of this innovative basin in mid-March.
“We are responsible for treating the wastewater generated by a new school accommodating 300 students, 53 residential units, and 400 square meters of commercial space,” Muriel Gruel proudly shares.
While this inauguration might seem minor, it carries significant implications for Guadeloupe, where over half of the wastewater treatment facilities fail to meet regulatory standards. Planted filter stations could provide a viable solution to this pressing issue.
A planted filter comprises a large basin outfitted with drains and multiple layers of gravel, which effectively filters wastewater before it is returned to the natural environment, according to Virginie Clérima from the International Office for Water, which has conducted experiments with these systems across the Caribbean.
Although this concept has been successfully utilized with reeds in temperate climates, it doesn’t translate well to tropical regions where reeds can become invasive. “We needed to identify an alternative plant that could oxygenate the filter and support microbial activity,” Ms. Clérima elaborates.
Through extensive trials, the heliconia was selected as the ideal plant. This beautiful relative of the bird of paradise is fast-growing, does not encourage mosquito breeding, offers excellent oxygenation, and is resilient even in cyclonic conditions, according to Virginie Clérima.
– The Importance of Sustainable Solutions –
The Vieux-Fort facility was inaugurated by the Minister of Overseas Territories, Manuel Valls, during his visit to Guadeloupe from March 15 to 17.
The stakes are particularly high for the archipelago. Recent data from the Water Office reveals that in 2022, a staggering 56% of wastewater treatment plants were found to be non-compliant. Moreover, the mapping of non-collective sanitation systems is inadequate, with a knowledge index of only 35 out of 120 as reported by the Guadeloupean office.
Consequently, the quality of bathing waters has been declining annually, prompting a report from the Economic, Social and Environmental Council (Cese) at the end of 2022 to caution about increasing pollution levels in coastal waters, which could lead to more frequent swim bans.
Guadeloupe’s first planted filter station was established in Petit-Canal in the northern region of Basse-Terre in the mid-2010s.
“It served as a prototype for a school project we executed within two months,” recalls Leslie Verepla, who oversaw the initiative, describing it as a “perfect nature-based solution.”
The model has been replicated, particularly in Vieux-Fort, where the station was built at a cost of 2.7 million euros, with 70% funding from the green fund aimed at accelerating ecological transition, launched in 2023, and the remaining 30% from the French Office for Biodiversity (OFB).
“We aim to achieve 60% completion on these projects,” shares Sylvie Gustave-dit-Duflo, chairwoman of the OFB board of directors, in an interview with AFP.
In terms of upkeep, the financial burden remains minimal—weekly visits are sufficient to ensure optimal performance, compliance checks are straightforward, and maintenance is aligned with that of green spaces, as advocates for this method argue.
Currently, Guadeloupe boasts four such stations, with stakeholders aspiring to install at least one in every municipality and to see regulations evolve regarding phytoremediation for individual sanitation.