No
tests until storm run off gone, Public Health
By
Jonathan Harwood
The
Public Health Department say they will be testing water quality
of Rarotonga's lagoon once the run off from the recent rains
has dissipated.
Ngapoko
Short explained that there was no point in testing the water
in the aftermath of a storm as the readings would not give a
true reflection of the quality because of the large amount of
debris running into the lagoon.
However,
members of AMMAG, the group who are campaigning to improve water
quality in the lagoons, say that testing should be undertaken
immediately after heavy rains so that the extent of any polluted
run off into the lagoon can be measured.
'That
is the point' said an AMMAG spokesperson. 'We believe that testing
should be done straight away to measure the problem'. The group
is concerned that pollution from piggeries located close to
streams and septic tanks near the shore is creating problems
inside the reef.
Scientist
Mark Skinner undertook research into the extent of the problem
and his findings caused controversy after he said that high
levels of nutrients were leading to algal blooms in the waters.
The
Environment Service has launched a campaign to reduce livestock
numbers near streams and some have even called for a moratorium
on development and a tightening up of building regulations.
'We
only test when there is no run off' said Short. 'Every time
you have a storm we don't test because we would be wasting our
time. We usually test two weeks afterwards. You don't get a
true picture of what is usually in the water after a storm.
Our records and the WHO guidelines say that the water is quite
safe'.
Many
were quick to defend the water quality of the lagoon following
the release of Skinner's findings, stating that the water is
safe for bathing and pointing out that the problem does not
compare to many of those found in more built-up places.
Cook
Islands News, 3rd November 2003
