FOR A week the smell had been almost overpowering, but on Monday, residents of sections of Mona, St. Andrew, living close to the Mona dam, say they are now able to breathe a little easier, as the smell coming from the dead fish is dissipating.
Late last week residents complained about a terrible 'raw and salty' smell that was being emittted from the reservoir.
THE EXTENT OF THE STENCH
The stench was so terrible one person, who worked at a business close to the reservoir, compared it to that from an animal's rotting corpse.
"It stink like dead dog," the worker said.
In the meantime, a health officer of the Kingston and St. Andrew Public Health Department said the situation is being monitored.
THE CAUSES
The department said it has extensively tested the water and fish from the reservoir, and the tests have determined so far that the reasons for the fish kill were natural.
The National Water Commission (NWC), has also come to a similar conclusion, citing algal bloom, which is the rapid growth of algae competing with fish for oxygen, an over-population of fish, and vernal overturn, which is changes in water temperature at different levels, as the causes of the problem.
Meantime, joggers have been requested by the water commission to desist using the dam.
The NWC said it has been doing some work in the area and joggers would impede its activities.
