The polluted water that appeared off the Kingston seashore last Thursday appears to have been dispersed.
During a visit yesterday by Stabroek News to the area in the vicinity of the Marriott Hotel there was no evidence of the discoloured water, which some had suspected to be crude oil.
Fishermen, who frequent the area to engage in leisure fishing activities had told Stabroek News that the substance in the water could have been sewage discarded by waste disposal companies.
City Solid Waste Director Walter Narine last night explained that the city has no control over the disposal of sewage or animal fat. He said that it has been a norm for years for disposal companies to discharge treated sewage into the river.
According to him there is an outlet managed and controlled by the Guyana Water Incorporated and this is used by companies to release the waste.
Narine stated that while it is necessary for the waste to be treated, it is unclear whether the companies are following the guidelines.
Persons frequenting the area observed a dark brown discoloration of the water and this prompted concern. However, the Civil Defence Commission on Thursday night said their checks had revealed that the substance was in fact animal fat that was dumped in the vicinity. The assessment team witnessed no crude oil in the area, nor any slick or sheen, the CDC said in a release.
In a brief statement on Friday, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said that it was in receipt of the video shared on Facebook regarding a spill in the Demerara River, in the vicinity of the Marriott Hotel, and that the agency conducted an investigation on Thursday.
According to the statement, the results of this exercise will be communicated upon receipt and analysis of the samples collected. The EPA encouraged the public to notify the Agency of any environmental emergencies at the earliest time possible by emailing epa@epaguyana.org or sending a message on Facebook or Instagram.
