SOURCE OF
CHAGUARAMAS WATER POLLUTION IS LAND BASED!
By Cathy Winn
The Boca
Trinidad & Tobago's Waterfront Newspaper
Volume 1 Issue 12
December 1997
The
Institute of Marine Affairs (IMA) held their fifth annual
research symposium on November 4th presenting their studies on the
effect that the yachting community is having on the ecology of the Chaguaramas
area. The results will not be much of a
surprise to most boaters, but perhaps not what some others were expecting.
As
everyone who has visited the area lately knows, new marinas and yards are
sprouting up on every available acre of land; foreign boats continue to flock
to Trinidad in increasing numbers especially during the hurricane season. There has been a lot of hysteria and
speculation on what all these yachts are putting into the water; oil, sewage,
garbage; are all the fish going to die?, are the beaches becoming unsafe?, etc.
etc.! The IMA realized the importance
of clear-cut professional studies to "let science determine policy' as one
IMA official put it.
The
symposium was composed of oceanographic, bacteriologic, chemical and
socio-economic elements. There were
numerous water and land based sampling stations set up both in Welcome Bay
(TTYA area) and all over Chaguaramas Bay, both close in and farther from shore
in deep water, in between boats, at drain mouths, at rivers, and at pumping
stations in both the dry and wet seasons.
The sediment was tested for many different metals; the tidal current
flow and flushing time was determined for both these areas as well as Carenage
Bay. Whether there has been
deterioration in water quality is difficult to ascertain since limited studies
on the subject were available for comparison.
This current IMA report can now be effectively used for future studies
of the bays.
It
was difficult to summarize this very comprehensive study but in brief here is
what was found. Carenage Bay is
shallow, has many rivers flowing into it.
It has poor flushing time and negligible current flow. Pollution levels were found to be heavier in
the rainy season (due to high run off from the land and drains), and sometimes
even finds its way as far out as Five Islands.
Welcome Bay (TTYA and Anchorage Restaurant area) wee found to have very
good water quality even close to shore in the dry season; during the rainy
season the pollution greatly increased due to run off. The testing area in between boats at TTYA
showed no pollution in the dry season; nor at any time was any fecal material
seen in the water, nor did the level of contamination rise when the number of
yachts in the anchorage increased.
According to TTYA only two boats in two years were left unattended while
at anchor so we can assume that the boats in the testing area were all occupied. There were high levels of pollution found at
the drain coming out of the Anchorage Restaurant. From the Coast Guard Station (Hart's Cut) unacceptable levels of
hydrocarbons, and copper were also found.
Both these areas have septic tanks, and it is possible (but unverified)
that they are not functioning properly.
The TTYA drain showed high levels of phosphates (detergent), probably
leaching from the tanks as well. All
areas tested showed high levels of copper, and it was not known whether this is
very old contamination or new leaching from bottom paint. Further studies will have to be done to
determine the source of the copper, as ell as overall study on the level of tin
in the sediment.
Chaguaramas
Bay analysis was almost the opposite of that of Carenage, since Chaguaramas Bay
is much larger and deeper, and has higher tidal current flow and flushing
action. In the dry season water quality
was very good; in the wet season contamination was found from run off and land
garbage. In this instance a previous
study was used for comparison and no deterioration in water quality was found
but the high levels of copper and other trace metals could become a problem if
not addressed now.
There
were no studies done from the time before World War II when there was a canal
from Allmoorings Bay to TTYA (known as Hart's Cut, which was closed for
security reasons by the US military and never reopened). This has probably contributed to the slow
flushing action of Carenage and Welcome Bays.
Several drains and outflows in the areas tested showed contamination and
wee thought to be due to non-functioning WASA pumps leading to overflow of raw
sewage.
There
is no doubt that the increased population growth in the Chaguaramas area is of
concern but this study goes a long way to show areas for improvement. The facts show that with vigilance and more
education, areas can be cleaned up to reduce pollution and prevent any further
destruction. Hopefully with full
cooperation and support, the natural resources will be preserved for locals and
visitors to enjoy Chaguaramas in peace.
Thanks to the IMA for this very informative and important work.
The
seminar was very well organized, well attended and produced very interesting
findings. It will be interesting to see
the results in any follow up reports of the future.
The Boca is a monthly publication of
Boaters' Enterprise Ltd.
CrewsInn Marina & Boatyard
Village Square; Suite B8
Chaguaramas, Trinidad
Publisher and Editor: Jack Dausend
Tel: (868) 634-2055
Fax: (868) 634-2056
Online: www.boatersenterprise.com
E-mail:
boaters@trinidad.net