GSPCB samples show high turbidity, foul smell
TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: The water tested from 18 locations in the putrid St Inez creek shows that dissolved oxygen (DO) is almost nil in most of the points and less than 5 parts per million at the remaining points. There was no aquatic life at these sampling points, turbidity was high and there was a foul smell also. DO is one of the most important indicators of the quality of water and its availability is vital for aquatic life. For good quality water, the dissolved oxygen level should be more than 5 ppm.
DO also refers to the volume of oxygen that is contained in water, and if we go as per this, there is no oxygen in most points of the creek.
The preliminary study of the much neglected creek also highlights siltation of the creek as a result of anthropogenic (human) activities. The Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) is currently carrying out a special environmental degradation study of the creek. The board would be carrying out the study in phased manner and in the first phase the creek samples were collected for the month of November and December 2013.
“Dissolved oxygen at most of the points is nil and at the remaining points it is below 5 ppm. This is probably because of high organic load as can be seen from the presence of biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), which is at very higher side. High BOD indicates presence of domestic sewage and possibly other waste discharge,” the report drafted by GSPCB scientists reads.
The observation also revealed that the creek is highly silted and there is heavy discharge of raw sewage into the creek along the entire stretch, wherein it flows. Stagnation of water due to decomposition of organic matter was also reported at many places, the report stated.
“The discharge of raw sewage is a major cause of contamination of the creek. There are large numbers of small hutments and big complexes along the entire stretch. Cannot blame all but it’s a fact that sewage is been discharged into the creek without treating it with STP,” GSPCB Chairman Jose Manual Noronha told Herald.
Noronha said that the study of the creek would be carried out over a period of one year to also explore and establish the sources responsible for degradation of the creek. “An initial survey of the entire creek was carried out for the month of November- December. The samples during the two months were analysed for around 27 parameters,” he said.
The creek originates from Taleigao through Camrabhat, Tambdi Mati, Tonca and continues to stumble past behind the Military Hospital , Don Bosco School andESG complex, from where it empties itself out into Mandovi River. The study has also observed presence of sea water into the creek during high-tide.
