Residents of Commissaris Thurkowweg in Meerzorg are complaining about dirty, foul-smelling tap water and periods when no water is available at all. They say they pay high bills and are considering installing their own wells because they no longer trust SWM .
The water problems in Meerzorg are once again causing frustration among residents of Commissaris Thurkowweg. One of them, L.S., says he has been dealing with tap water that, according to him, has been heavily discoloured for about two weeks. “For weeks now, I have been getting Colakreek water from the tap,” he says. According to the resident, the water smells bad at times.
According to L.S., the situation is not limited to the quality of the water. At certain times, nothing at all comes out of the tap. “Not a drop of water from the tap,” the resident says. He says he pays between SRD 1,000 and SRD 2,000 per month in water charges to SWM.
The frustration has now become so great that L.S. says he is not willing to simply pay a high bill this month. “Woe betide them if I get a bill of more than SRD 1,000,” he says. According to him, in addition to his monthly water bill, he must also spend money on water tanks to have enough usable water at home. As a result, his total water expenses can rise to around SRD 2,000 per month, he says.
Water problems in Meerzorg burden households
L.S. says the situation weighs heavily because water is a basic necessity of life. He points out that households need more water especially during hot periods for drinking, cooking, bathing and keeping the household running. When supply fails, residents must seek alternatives at their own expense, he says.
For the resident, the problem can no longer be compared to a brief technical malfunction. “If it had been a disruption of two or three days, I could understand that. But we have been dealing with problems for weeks,” he says. According to L.S., the uncertainty surrounding the water supply has even affected his daily planning because he does not know when sufficient water will be available for normal household use.
Residents considering their own water well
Neighbourhood residents R.I. and S.M. also say they have had enough of the situation. They say they pay around SRD 1,000 to SWM every month, while, according to them, they cannot rely on a constant supply of clean tap water. “I am even afraid to turn on the tap. That is how bad the situation is,” S.M. says about the colour and quality of the water that sometimes comes out of the pipes.
R.I. has now decided to take measures himself. He says he has purchased three culvert pipes with which he intends to build a water well for emergencies. “This is the drop that did not make the bucket overflow,” he says sarcastically, referring to the lack of water. “I can no longer rely on SWM, so I might as well build a water well for emergencies.”
“We pay for water, but we do not know what comes out of the tap.”
Anger over bills and service provision
The water problems in Meerzorg are causing residents not only concerns about availability, but also questions about billing. L.S. believes consumers cannot be asked to pay high amounts when the supply is, in their view, inadequate for days or when the water supplied is considered unusable. He even advocates for residents to become less dependent on SWM and invest again in their own water supplies.
The resident goes a step further and calls the situation inhumane. He says he is considering protesting at SWM’s head office if there is no improvement. “Would they also wait weeks for water if this happened in the neighbourhood of the president, vice president or ministers?” he asks.
Previous complaints about water problems in Meerzorg
The complaints on Commissaris Thurkowweg are not entirely isolated. In September 2025, Key News reported on a resident from the same street who complained about dirty water, an unpleasant smell and periods with barely any water coming from the tap. A month later, another complaint followed about a high water bill after a period without sufficient water supply. Read Key News’ earlier reporting on the water problems on Commissaris Thurkowweg here.
The drinking water supply is also under pressure at the national level. Earlier this month, Key News wrote that substantial investments are needed in new sources, pumps, production stations and the distribution network to better meet existing and future demand. That report also pointed to complaints about low water pressure and limited availability in various residential areas.
SWM offers option to report disruptions
SWM states on its own website that customers can report disruptions when they experience low pressure, no water, dirty water or an unusual taste. In the case of discoloured water, the company advises, among other things, checking whether neighbours are experiencing the same problem and allowing the water to run for some time once supply returns to normal. In the event of a persistent smell or taste, customers are advised to submit a report. Customers can use SWM’s online disruption reporting form for this purpose.
For residents of Commissaris Thurkowweg, the main concern is that there should be lasting clarity about the cause of the water problems in Meerzorg and when supply will become reliable again. They say they no longer want to accept a situation in which they receive a monthly bill while also having to set aside extra money for tanks, storage or their own water well.
Call for a structural solution for Meerzorg
L.S. believes responsibility for a reliable water supply should not be placed on individual households. According to him, residents should not be forced to make major investments themselves to compensate for a basic service. He sees the idea of building a water well primarily as an emergency measure when the regular supply falls short.
The irritation in the neighbourhood shows that the water problems in Meerzorg go beyond mere inconvenience. Residents want to know why the supply is so inconsistent, why the water is, according to them, regularly dirty or foul-smelling, and what measures are being taken to prevent a recurrence. For them, one question remains: when will they be able to turn on the tap again without doubt?
