Tests for chemical impurities and fuel residue were among those conducted on the water in the Lamaha Conservancy before it was declared safe, an official from the Ministry of Agriculture says.
The official, who asked not to be named, said the tests were conducted by the Guyana Water Inc (GWI) and they all showed no form of contamination. The source, however, said that results from samples sent overseas are still outstanding.
Last week, Water Minister Irfaan Ali told this newspaper that despite the recent discovery of dead fish in the Lamaha Canal, the water in it is “safe”. He said several tests were conducted and there was no discovery of any form of contamination. He said too that a “detailed investigation” is still ongoing.
When this newspaper contacted Ali and asked him to detail the tests that were conducted on the water, he said GWI was preparing a release which would be issued shortly. He did not say when this would be done.
Dead fish were recently found floating in the Sheriff Street location of the Lamaha Canal. Reports were that they were first spotted on Thursday but the number of fish increased significantly the following day jolting the authorities into action.
An official from the Agriculture Ministry told this newspaper that the dead fish had been removed, and the staff managing the East Demerara Water Conservancy has been releasing water through the Kofi outlet to freshen the water streams in that location.
The official said tests are being continuously done by GWI and the Fisheries Department of the Agriculture Ministry to “track water quality and the impact on marine life”.
