Manila Bay too dirty for swimming: DENR
abs-cbnNEWS.com | 04/07/2009 9:22 PM
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The Department of Environment and Natural Resources on Tuesday advised the public not to swim in Manila Bay due to high levels of fecal coliform found in the water.
"Swimming in Manila Bay is a health hazard. Large quantities of fecal coliform bacteria indicate a higher risk of pathogens being present in the water. Some of the diseases that people can get from swimming in dirty water are ear infection, dysentery, typhoid fever, viral and bacterial gastroenteritis and hepatitis A," DENR Secretary Lito Atienza said.
Data from the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) of the DENR showed that water samples from almost all of the monitoring stations situated in Manila Bay have high concentrations of coliform -- greatly exceeding the DENR Water Quality Criteria for Class "SB" waters of 200 Most Probable Number (MPN)/100ml.
EMB Director Julian Amador said fecal coliform bacteria enter the water bodies through direct discharge of raw sewage, septage and untreated and partially treated wastewater from domestic sources.
Atienza said the Supreme Court's directive to the DENR, including the other 10 government agencies, is to ultimately restore the bay's water quality to a level that is "fit for swimming, skin diving and other forms of contact recreation."
"The water of Manila Bay, to be honest, is very, very dirty. To clean it up is definitely a gargantuan task but we have to do it, and we have to do it fast before we lose the opportunity to do it," Atienza said.
According to the DENR chief, no less than the high court has seen the "extreme necessity" for all concerned government agencies to act immediately, adding that the SC directive takes on the principle of a "continuing mandamus."
