Country Pond Unfit for Human Use

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What Ails You

Friday, 31 December 2010 06:55

By D Francis

The results of water testing at Country Pond have finally been revealed; it is extremely unfit for human use. Chief Health Inspector Lionel Michael called a meeting Thursday with the car washers who use the Pond, however this was postponed due to inclement weather.

In sharing highlights of the lab report, Michael revealed that over 20 samples were taken from August to November to determine the pollution load. Microbiological indicators revealed that car washers, members of the public, and car owners are in danger of contracting diseases due to the high level of pollution which the Pond now hosts from waste generated mainly from the government office complex and the East Bus Station.

"The harmful content of the water includes bacteria, chemicals such as ammonia, nitrate, nitrogen and Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD). We found the bacterial content to be very high, from a low of 400 to 55,000. This is very dangerous if it come into contact with humans," he said.

Michael hopes the car washers will stop using the water immediately for any human-related purpose, even if it means that people stop taking their cars there to be washed.

Asked about the similar use of other ponds in areas like Cedar Grove, Big Creek, and Sea View Farm, Michael explained, "I'm not saying they may not be polluted, but it's totally different. With the case of the Country Pond, the bacterial count is 55,000 to 100 ml of water, so you can imagine the risk; there is no continuous discharge of human waste going into these ponds, as is the case with Country Pond.

There is no standard for this type of water for humans, like say the sea/beach, which has a bacterial load of 26 or lower to every 100 ml of water; this is very low. On other words, nobody should use the Country Pond for any purpose - swimming, diving, playing - the most you could do is to row a boat across the water. It's raw water which is contained to prevent flooding in the city. That's the purpose for which the facility was mainly built."

Michael also commented on questions from some quarters about why there was no alarm about the Pond before, since it has been in use for decades.

He replied, "Micro organisms change into more toxic strains as time goes by, and this thought about how long Country Pond is in use without a problem should not even be advocated. The fact is the water is polluted, and poses a health risk, and that's the issue. The high bacterial load and the type of bacteria found in the samples indicate that fecal waste is entering the Pond."

He however dismissed concerns that waste from the Mount St John's Medical Centre is also finding its way down into the Pond .

"The way how the sewage plant is located on the compound makes it impossible for the waste to enter the Country Pond. It would mainly go to the gutter southwest of the hospital," he said. 

Michael said his department is aware of the economic impact this lab report will have on the car washers, and discussions have started with APUA to see what can be done.

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Suggestions were made to install pipes or tanks nearby. He said the Pond water, in its open state, cannot be treated, but would have to be placed in a tank, then treated and filtered.

Michael said he is looking forward to continuing discussions with everyone involved to find a quick solution. Meanwhile, he strongly advised the public to stay away from the Country Pond water.

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