By Claudia Gardner, Gleaner Writer
The scenic Lucea harbour is now under the microscope of the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA). It has been deemed unsafe for swimming. - Photo By Herbert Mckennis
WESTERN BUREAU:
THE LARGE amount of raw sewage and garbage flowing into the Lucea Harbour has prompted the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) to issue a 'no swimming' warning for the scenic waterway, because of its potential health risk.
During a tour of the Hanover coastline last Wednesday, Anthony Gooden, NEPA's Enforcement Officer for Hanover, told The Gleaner that the absence of a central sewage system in Lucea was primarily responsible for the heavy pollution of the harbour, as the old method of soak-away pits, which allows raw sewage to be released into the harbour via the town's main drain, was still being used in the town.
"Based on the last report I got from the laboratory, the harbour is heavily polluted; and for swimmers and fishermen's health, it is considered quite dangerous," Mr Gooden declared, pointing to a murky, garbage and algae-saturated section of the harbour. "This is one of the worst polluted harbours I have ever seen.
"I think the business-people, local authorities and even some of the fishermen should also be held responsible for the state of the harbour," continued Mr. Gooden. "Earlier this year we served notices on persons living around the western section of the harbour, who had their sewage running into the harbour, but we only had compliance from a couple of them," he said.
Mr. Gooden said that based on the algae growth at the point where the main drain empties into the sea, he is of the view that raw sewage is being deliberately pumped into that section of the harbour. According to him, several attempts have been made to catch the perpetrators but to no avail.
Paula Hurlock, the geologist who heads The Dolphin Head Trust, the parish's environmental NGO, said she does not envisage any changes in the harbour situation unless a central sewage system, a better garbage management system and sound farming practices are put in place to alleviate pollution woes.
A STRUCTURED APPROACH
In calling for a structured approach to deal with the situation, Ms. Hurlock said the local authorities in collaboration with the Hanover Parish Development Committee (HPDC) should lobby the National Water Commission (NWC) to fund a site for sewage treatment and disposal in the town.
Chairman of the HPDC, Nerris Hawthorne, told The Gleaner that she too was perturbed about the pollution issue, so much so, that over the past three weeks her organisation has been taking water samples from the harbour with a view of bolstering their demand for funding to start a central sewage system, which is long overdue in the town.
"I believe that until the town gets a central sewage system, the conditions will remain the same or get worse," said Mrs. Hawthorne. "I am so disappointed that, at a time when so many environmental issues are being discussed nationally and internationally, none of the relevant authorities have sought to do something about it."
