For months, a persistent uncontrolled wastewater leak has transformed a stretch of Bridge Street in Saint Lucia into an unhygienic, foul-smelling hazard that has crippled local small businesses and raised urgent red flags over public health and safety. Local vendors who operate along the affected corridor have detailed the steady deterioration of conditions, pushing for immediate targeted intervention from responsible authorities after failed temporary fixes and a bureaucratic standoff over who owns the problem.
Rosemond Clery, one street vendor working steps from the leak, described the stench as overwhelming to the point of driving customers away entirely. “The smell is more than one can bear. It’s really, really bad,” Clery explained, noting that passersby now hurry past the area rather than stopping to browse or purchase goods like they once did. Clery added that the leak has grown progressively worse, with wastewater flowing at higher volumes than it did when the problem first emerged, pooling in deep potholes that line the roadway. Previous attempts to patch the damaged section have done nothing to resolve the issue: workers filled potholes with cement, but the constant flow of water prevented the material from setting properly, leaving the potholes and leak fully intact.
The leak has already created immediate safety risks, Clery said, recalling an incident where a pedestrian slipped on the contaminated surface and got her feet covered in wastewater. Water from the leak carries high levels of dangerous bacteria, Clery warned, putting everyone who passes through the area at risk of exposure.
Another local vendor, who asked to remain anonymous, traced the origin of the problem to construction work that recently began at the nearby Dennery bus stop. Since construction started, the foul odor has chased off potential customers who would otherwise stop along the popular corridor. To escape the stench, nearly all nearby shop owners have taken to keeping their doors closed and relying exclusively on air conditioning to circulate air inside their businesses. The vendor emphasized that the urgency of the issue cannot be overstated: “something needs to be done effectively immediately because this is sewer water.”
Berthia John, who runs Good Old Days Snacks along Bridge Street, called daily exposure to the leak unpleasant and deeply disruptive. “The smell has not been something great to be inhaling on a daily basis,” she said, describing the ongoing situation in the area as “disgusting.” Beyond the odor, John pointed to additional risks from passing traffic: when vehicles speed through the pooled wastewater, they often splash contaminated water onto vendors and pedestrians standing nearby. Many drivers are inconsiderate of the conditions, she added, ignoring the obvious hazard. John warned that long-term exposure to the sewage and its fumes could lead to chronic illness for vendors who are forced to work along the street daily. For most vendors, there is little option to relocate: “you kind of just have to stay where you are,” John said, though some have resorted to closing their stands early each day to limit their exposure.
One local resident affected by the leak stressed that the problem is not limited to just street vendors, but impacts everyone who travels or works along Bridge Street. Conditions deteriorate even further during rainstorms, when the odor intensifies and contaminated water spreads further down the roadway, expanding the hazard zone. This resident criticized local officials for moving far too slowly to address what they called a preventable public health issue, urging immediate action to resolve the leak before more serious health problems develop.
After weeks of growing public outcry, the Water and Sewerage Company Inc. (WASCO), Saint Lucia’s main water and sewerage utility, issued a response distancing itself from responsibility for the leak. A company representative clarified that WASCO does not own, operate or maintain any public sewer lines running along Bridge Street, meaning the issue falls outside of the utility’s official remit. While the company acknowledged the validity of public concerns over the leak, it stated that “the matter does not fall under WASCO’s current sewerage infrastructure network or operational responsibility.” The utility added that “the relevant authorities or responsible parties must be engaged to address the matter,” and encouraged local residents to report wastewater issues through official, designated channels. WASCO reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining and managing public water and wastewater systems across Saint Lucia in areas where it holds responsibility.