A source from the Public Authority for the Environment revealed that recent tests on sea water for pollution levels indicated that the level of pollution resulted from the dumping of sewage waste has extended safe and acceptable limits by some 300 percent. Beaches in Salmiya, Bidaa and Messilah have been affected, and some officials are expecting the problem to escalate.

Furthermore, the sources added that pollution in the southern areas is also on the rise, though pollution levels there have not surpassed their normal, acceptable thresholds. However, those levels are expected to be reached in three to four days if sewage continues to be dumped into the Gulf at its current pace.

The source also said that they have sent test results to the Ministry of Health and the Public Authority for Agricultural Affairs and Fish Resources (PAAAFR) in order for them to make the necessary test and take appropriate action. In addition, he pointed out that coordination has been established with the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR) in order to test samples from sea water for heavy metals and hydrocarbon substances, which poise great threats to the public's health.

Meanwhile, information revealed that the Ministry of Electricity and Water (MEW) has informed the Public Authority for the Environment in their daily reports that the level of pollution in the sea near the Shuaiba water desalination plant is rising but still has not exceeded the maximum limits, while indicating that pollution could reach the desalination plants within days, which could endanger drinking water.

The reports still indicate that the situation is currently safe while they continue their tests for any toxic substances at the desalination plants. In that regard, deputy assistant for power plant operations and maintenance, Abdul-Khaliq Murad, said that his ministry has high-tech equipment that can help them detect any impurities in the water, including ammonia contamination.

On the other hand, a source from the Ministry of Public Works pointed out that they have formed an emergency operation team comprised of representatives from all concerned directorates who are following the case nonstop. He added that dumping sewage water into the sea has been occurring in the country for some time now, and that what is taking place now is considered "small" in comparison to the amount dumped in recent periods.

On a related note, head of the environmental parliamentary committee, MP Dr Ali Al-Omair, said that HH the Prime Minister, Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammad, has urged ministers whose ministries are concerned with the matter to attend the meeting of the committee scheduled for Monday in order to find prompt solutions to the situation. Al-Omair further expressed his concern, especially after the preliminary tests that the Public Authority of Environment have conducted on samples taken from affected areas revealed t
hat the level of sea pollution have risen by 10 times the accepted levels.

Furthermore, head of the voluntary work center, Sheikha Amthal Al-Ahmad, urged for prompt solutions to be found for the problem and expressed her rejection of the dumping of sewage waste into the sea, while realizing at the same time that such a measure was necessary in order to prevent sewage pipes from erupting and flooding streets and citizens' homes. However, she also added that the problem should be considered comprehensively, because dumping sewage water into the sea has been going on since before th
e recent incident that took place at the Mishref plant, Al-Rai reported.

The preliminary tests conducted by the Public Authority of Environment on samples from the sea indicated that the sea is now considered contaminated, said head of the Authority, Dr Salah Al-Madahi, who said a rising level of harmful bacteria, ammonia and other toxic substances will occur as a result.
Al-Madahi further indicated that the level of pollution could extend to reach the shores of neighboring Gulf countries, which might require Kuwait to face a number of legal issues.

Meanwhile, a number of engineers at the Ministry of Public Works said that they are facing several problems in their work to repair the Mishref plant.

Kuwaittimes