On December 16, 2021 the Water Circles team organized an online information session for the yacht owners.The purpose of this session was to give information about the mission of the Water Circles team and the solutions that are proposed for wastewater treatment on the island. The Water Circles team also responded to questions and concerns of the yacht owners. The presentation of the information session can be read here: http://www.boneiruduradero.nl/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Information-session-cruisers-community-final-16-Dec-21-1.pdf. The Water Circles team has also written answers to the most frequently asked questions and comments which can be viewed in this document: http://www.boneiruduradero.nl/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Frequently-Asked-Questions-and-posed-statements-by-yacht-owners.pdf
Water Circles is a collaboration between the World Wide Fund for Nature – the Netherlands, STINAPA, the Water and Electricity Company Bonaire (WEB), the Public Entity Bonaire, Fundashon Mariadal and Water Alliance. They are working together to provide alternative solutions to the wastewater issues in Bonaire. During the information session, the results and recommendations of the Marine Wastewater Survey 2021 by Gerard van Erp was presented. All results and recommendations of this research can be found online: https://www.boneiruduradero.nl/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Marine-Waste-Water-Survey-Bonaire-2021_def.pdf

According to the Water Circles team the illegal sewage dumping by visiting yacht owners should be adequately addressed by no longer allowing this practice and offering a mobile pump out service as an alternative. The team also expressed its disappointment in the message framing of the article that was published by the Bonaire Reporter, Issue 22, from November 24th until December 8th, 2021. This article states that the pump-out system placed at Harbour Village Marina could save the reefs, which is a heavy exaggeration. The way that the information was presented in this news item, portrays the yacht owners as the biggest cause of the wastewater issue on the island, which is not how they deserve to be portrayed. The recommendations that are presented by the Water Circles team could be part of the solutions for the wider wastewater management in Bonaire.
The main goal of the Water Circles project is that wastewater in Bonaire doesn’t end up in the ocean, creating a threat to the coral reefs, our health and safety. Water Circles focuses on finding solutions by making wastewater suitable for reuse. This 3-year project will set up 5 demo projects for decentralized wastewater treatment, using innovative technologies of (ecological) wastewater treatment. The successful demos can then serve as an example for other locations in Bonaire and the region. Furthermore, this project involves local training of technicians by offering a water purification module during their MBO study. Aside from decentralized wastewater treatment, WEB will also work on solutions with the Public Entity Bonaire to expand the capacity of the RWZI to accommodate for extra wastewater coming in. The Public Entity Bonaire has applied for funding to expand the sewerage system and to develop an integrated vision for wastewater management.
One of the results of Water Circles’ main goal, is that the fee structure needs to be reviewed. They suggested an increase of the overnight mooring fees as part of a total restructuring of the Bonaire National Marine Park visitor fee. STINAPA submitted a proposal for a new mooring policy to the Public Entity of Bonaire which is currently under review. Most questions and concerns from the yacht owners were related to the proposed new mooring policy. The Water Circles team will share a detailed presentation including answers to the frequently asked questions online in order to give extra information to the yacht owners. The Water Circles team will continue to provide regular updates about the proposed changes deriving from this project to the yachting community and the general public. The entire community in Bonaire can contact the Water Circles team at any time via email projectwatercircles@gmail.com.