Is the water that runs through some of our taps clean enough? Dr. Ruth Moore, a young scientist at CARIRI, UWI set out to find the answer. She examined the waterways of the Upper Caroni area.

Her method was to monitor pollutants in the waterways (1) up to the Caroni-Arena Water treatment plant and (2) beyond the treatment plant. She found that the water before the treatment plant was unfit for human consumption. Beyond the treatment plant, however, most of the pollutants were absent.

The results of her work show a wide range of ORGANIC POLLUTANTS present in the waterways tested. Two main sources of pollution were found. One was an industrial estate in the area. The other was the presence of agricultural projects up-stream. Fortunately at the treatment plant the water was made fit for human consumption.

Dr. Moore, who got her Ph.D. in 1984, won an award for her work. The award was a project called the Young Scientists Award Scheme. It was initiated by the Trinidad and Tobago Scientific Association. Dr. Moore's award consisted of $1,000 in cash, a silver plaque and travel grant worth $500 US. The grant came from COSTED (Committee on Science and Technology in Developing Countries.)

Dr. Moore's work emphasizes the need to keep our environment clean. A clean environment means a healthy one. This is particularly true of our waterways. Polluted water is a source of disease and ill health. The more polluted the water, the harder it is to treat. Therefore such water is costlier to treat.