Large Differences in Drinking Water Consumption Between Neighborhoods in Bonaire

In 2024, the average drinking water consumption per household in Bonaire was 153 cubic meters, but there are large differences between neighborhoods.

23-10-2025 15:30

In 2024, the average drinking water consumption per household in Bonaire was 153 cubic meters, but there are large differences between neighborhoods. Households in the Sabadeco and Lima neighborhoods consume the most drinking water on average. In the Rincon-Noord and Rincon-Zuid neighborhoods, the average consumption per household is the lowest. This is reported by Statistics Netherlands (CBS).

The Sabadeco neighborhood has the highest average drinking water consumption per household in Bonaire, with 469 cubic meters in 2024. This is much higher than in other neighborhoods. Income seems to play a role here. Sabadeco has the highest average disposable income.

Water usage is also high in Sabadeco because this neighborhood has a relatively large number of swimming pools filled with drinking water. Households in the Lima neighborhood also use relatively much drinking water per household, averaging 347 cubic meters. In the Santa Barbara and Nawati-Noord neighborhoods, drinking water consumption was much lower at 237 cubic meters and 223 cubic meters respectively.

Lowest Drinking Water Consumption in Rincon-Zuid

In the Rincon-Noord and Rincon-Zuid neighborhoods, drinking water consumption is lower than in many other parts of the island. In Rincon-Noord, households use an average of 109 cubic meters of drinking water, and in Rincon-Zuid 106 cubic meters.

Higher Drinking Water Consumption from April to October

From April to October, the most drinking water is consumed in Bonaire. There is the least rainfall during this period and it is slightly warmer. From November to March, the least drinking water is consumed.

In neighborhoods such as Lima and especially Sabadeco, there are greater differences in consumption per month. The other neighborhoods show fairly stable water consumption per household throughout the year, with only a slight increase in the summer months.

Lima

All neighborhoods

Rincon-Noord

Rincon-Zuid

m³

Households with Low Drinking Water Consumption Pay Less in 2024

In 2024, households paid an average of 57 US dollars per month for drinking water. In the Sabadeco and Lima neighborhoods, households paid 166 US dollars and 124 US dollars per month for drinking water. This is because they consume relatively much water. In the Rincon-Noord and Rincon-Zuid neighborhoods, households spent an average of 42 US dollars and 41 US dollars per month on drinking water, the lowest costs of all neighborhoods.

The total drinking water costs are a combination of fixed and variable costs. Due to an additional purchasing power subsidy from the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment, on top of an existing subsidy from the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, fixed costs have decreased in 2024. Variable costs have increased. Due to the extra purchasing power measure on fixed costs, neighborhoods with lower drinking water consumption in 2024 on average paid less on their water bills than the year before.

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Source last updated: 23 October 25

Published on Openrijk: 23 October 25

Source: Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek