PRESS RELEASE - August 16, 2004
Fish Kill in the Bog Walk Gorge, St. Catherine
The Jamaica Bauxite Institute (JBI) and Water Resources Authority (WRA) were notified of a spill from WINDALCO’s Ewarton Bauxite/Alumina Works, on Thursday August 12, 2004. The reported cause of the spill was a power outage on Wednesday August 11, at the plant which resulted in the shutdown of all pumps including the spill return pumps. The spill, a diluted caustic solution, escaped into a nearby dry gully. Due to rainfall associated with Tropical Storm Charley which affected the island last week, the spill effluent was subsequently transported into the Rio Cobre River.
It was reported by the JBI that the spill was contained at the source within a few hours and monitoring of water quality was instituted at selected stations along the Rio Cobre River.
NEPA received several complaints from callers on Friday morning indicating dead fishes were seen in the Rio Cobre River in the vicinity of Flat Bridge, St. Catherine. There was a white frothy appearance and sections of the river also had a red-brown colouration. It was also reported that there was a strong caustic soda odour emanating from the river.
The WRA has recommended that autopsies be performed on the tissues of some of the larger dead fishes to assist in determining the cause of death. According to the WRA’s recommendations, the Hope Vet and the Forensic labs will carry out these tests.
On Saturday, a multi-agency team comprising: NEPA, Public Heath Inspectors of the St. Catherine Parish Council, the JBI, the National Irrigation Commission, the National Water Commission (NWC) and the WRA visited the area
The river appeared light green in colour and dead fishes were still noted in the vicinity of Flat Bridge. Clean up efforts were coordinated by WINDALCO up to Sunday August 15, 2004, with recommendations for incinerating or burial of the dead fishes.
NEPA, WINDALCO and the JBI will continue investigations to determine the present state of the water quality in the river until it returns to normal.
The public will be further advised as to the progress of these investigations.
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