NWC says water safe despite dead fish
published: Saturday | February 7, 2004

By Francine Black, Staff Reporter

THE NATIONAL Water Commission (NWC) is insisting that water from the Mona reservoir is safe for consumption, despite an abundance of dead fish that have been floating in the water over the last few days.

According to a news release issued yesterday by the state-owned utility, testing had revealed that there were no chemicals in the water and that the fish-kill occurred from natural causes.

"Although it is a natural occurrence, since the fish-kill began, the National Water Commission has taken additional samples for testing at its laboratory as well as at independent laboratories," the release said.

"These test results have all confirmed that there is no pesticide or other chemical contamination in the water."

Peter Knight of the Ministry of Health's Environmental Unit said yesterday that the Ministry had done some independent investigations as well as collaborative work with NWC on the fish kill.

He told The Gleaner that the Ministry had become concerned after it received a number of reports about the matter.

He said that last week, Barry Wint, the Ministry's Chief Medical Officer, had written to the water utility asking it to look into the reports.

Following the request, testing was done and a report from the commission and one from the Ministry were submitted yesterday.

ALGAL BLOOM

Mr. Knight said he had not yet read the reports and so could not comment on the Ministry's position.

The NWC cited the cause for the kill as "algal bloom, over-population of fish and vernal overturn".

The agency also said the occurrence was not uncommon in large bodies of water, especially raw water.

According to Mr. Knight, the water from the reservoir is tested daily and goes through a treatment process before reaching the consumer.

"The water quality is usually 100 per cent good," he stressed.

The Mona reservoir supplies a section of the Corporate Area including the Mona and Barbican communities.

The NWC said it has been removing the dead fish and has carried out a 'stringent' treatment of the water at its Mona Treatment Plant.