11 October 2023

Salvation Islands: CNES is working to restore the water supply on Royale Island

Since September, the water network supplying Royale Island has been malfunctioning following the breakdown of its seawater filtration system (reverse osmosis plant). 

Pending the installation of a new reverse osmosis plant, the French space agency, as owner of the Salvation Islands, is looking into palliative solutions for supplying water to Royale Island.



This involves transporting water from the mainland and storing it on site. However, implementing these solutions requires resources that are either unavailable in French Guiana or already being used elsewhere in the region to respond to emergencies during this period of severe drought.



The French space agency has been doing all it can to restore the water supply to the island starting 19 October. Before this date, there was free access to water, but without water supply.



The ban on access over the last weekend had nothing to do with these malfunctions, but was solely due to the latest Vega launch. To ensure the safety of people, the islands, which are in the launcher trajectory, are evacuated during launches. To enforce this order, the Prefecture issues a no-sailing order before each launch. 



In anticipation of VV23, this order stipulated that evacuations had to be effective from Tuesday, 3 October until 1 hour after the end of the actual launch. The order was still in force on Saturday, after the launch was postponed. It was temporarily suspended on Sunday to facilitate the access of transport operators to the islands.

Vue sur l'île du Diable au large de Kourou.
About

 

As the owner of the islands, CNES is responsible for guaranteeing the safety of people on the islands and preserving their historical heritage. All three islands are listed as historical monuments. In addition, several buildings are listed as historical monuments. The Department of Cultural Affairs supports the French space agency in restoring this heritage.

Though they are located off the coast of Kourou, the islands are administratively attached to the town of Cayenne. The Agamis association, responsible for protecting and promoting the islands' heritage, and the CACL (Agglomeration Community of the Coastal Centre) share the responsibility for receiving visitors and organising events.

An Islands Committee has been in place since 2010 to study all development projects. It brings together the French government, CNES, the towns of Cayenne and Kourou, the CACL and the Conservatoire du Littoral (French coastal protection agency).
 

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