By Anastasha Elliott
Third form students of the Lyn Jeffers High School last weekend while engaging in a beach evaluation exercise detected coliform in the waters of Pinney’s Lagoon in the vicinity of Double Duece.
Coliform more specific faecal coliform is a bacteria that is naturally present in the human digestive tract, however, it is rare or absent in unpolluted water.
Fecal coliform is dangerous because it may contain disease causing organisms such as pathogens. Pathogens may cause ear infections, dysentery, typhoid fever or even hepatitus A.
Short term effects of the bacteria include diarrhoea, cramps, nausea, headaches, as well as other negative health effects,
The bacteria in water, also poses a health risk to aquatic life. It does this by depleting oxygen supplies in water that are needed for fish and other aquatic life to survive.
The presence of the bacteria in the water therefore means that although its is ok to swim in, the water is dangerous to swallow. The bacteria when digested causes diarrhoea and vomiting.
Miriam Knorr of the Environmental Action Committee took the students to the Pinney’s Lagoon as part of the UNESCO SANDWATCH programme.
In an interview she said that the fisheries department was contacted and informed of the find.
“They told us that there should not be any coliform in the water especially after the heavy rainfall we have just experienced where some 15 inches of rain fell on the island,” said Knorr.
“They told us that the coliform got into the water via faeces from humans or animals,” said Knorr.
As a result of the find and the response of the department the students asks a few questions. They are; “what caused the coliform to get in the water? Is it because of the bathrooms installed along the beach? Behind the Pinney’s Lagoon is a wetland, therefore is it a sewage problem? Is it a result of the animals?”
As part of the programme, the students will visit the beach or lagoon each month and observe and record the beach environment and changes via sketches and test results. They also clean the beach.
According to Knorr the students used a valid test kit from the Canadian Forestry Field located in Canada.
The kit she said has five different ways of looking at the vials with the water in it. The vials were incubated for five days. Following the five days the water showed all signs necessary to determine the presence of coliform.
There are a number of simple indicators, which can be used to measure water quality.
They include the presence of coliform bacteria, dissolved oxygen, nitrate, temperature and pH. Additional indicators are that of turbidity, phosphate and biochemical oxygen.
While at the lagoon the students measured the temperature of the water, measured the oxygen and pH levels, collected shells, cleaned the beach and catalloged the garbage to see what kind of garbage is deposited on the beach.
According to Knorr the results recorded indicated that the temperature of the water is 28 degrees, the nitrate levels are high and the pH balance measured 6.9, all of which is good she said. Nitrate is a nutrient needed by all aquatic plants and animals to build protein.
However disturbingly the students in addition to detecting coliform in the water also recorded that there was no oxygen in the water.
Much of dissolved oxygen comes from the atmosphere. After dissolving at the surface oxygen is distributed throughout the water, where it is needed by all aquatic organisms for respiration and their survival.
An introductory to SANDWATCH booklet produced by UNESCO explains the aim of the programme and the meaning of the presence of or lack thereof of water quality indicators.
The aim the book said is to provide the framework for school students, with the help of their teachers and local communities, to work together to critically evaluate the problems and conflicts facing their beach environments and to develop sustainable approaches to address these issues.
Its focus is on measuring changes, identifying problems and addressing issues in the beach environment.
The booklet explains that faecal coliform bacteria by itself is not harmful, however they occur with intestinal pathogens (bacteria or viruses) that are dangerous to human health.
Their presence in the water serves as an indicator of sewage or faecal contamination. The organisms may enter into the water via several routes including inadequately treated sewages, storm water drains, septic tanks, run-off from animal grazing land, animal processing plants and from wildlife living in and around water bodies.
Knorr during the interview voiced the hope that by getting the information out to the general public maybe something can be done to help the lagoon.
The SANDWATCH programme hopes to spread awareness throughout the community.
