Water Quality

Kingston HarbourMonitoring

Presenter: Danneille Townsend

OVERVIEW

WaterImportance of WaterImportance of Water Quality Monitoring

QualityParameters for Water QualityAmbient Standards

Monitoring/ EnforcementMonitoring Activities in Kingston HarbourChallenges and Opportunities in Kingston Harbour

Clean Water for a Healthy World

Natural Resource

Two- thirds of human body

75% earth surface

Water Quality Monitoring

Where?- Locations of interest

When?- Dependent on Monitoring

Programme

Why?- Detect and Assess Changes- Exploitation, Mistreatment,

Contamination

How?- Collection and Analyses of

water samples- Bio-monitoring

NEPA’s ROLE

Develop and implement water pollution control programmesImplement a comprehensive water quality monitoring programme in collaboration with various stakeholder agenciesConduct Sampling of effluent streams, river and seas island wideEnforce all conditions for permits and licences relating to water quality

- Source: http://www.nrca.org/publications/brochures

NRCA Act (1990)

Jamaican National Ambient Water Quality Standard (Marine)

Constituent Concentration

Phosphate, PO4 0.003 (mg/L)

Nitrate, NO3 0.014 (mg/L)

Total Alkalinity 131 – 168 (mg/L)

pH 8.0 – 8.4

Biochemical Oxygen Demand 0.57 – 1.16 (mg/L)

Total Coliform 48 – 256 MPN/100mL

Faecal Coliform <2 – 13 MPN/100mL

Kingston Harbour

Sites monitored under the Coastal Water Quality Monitoring Programme (CWQMP)

Kingston Harbour

Effluent Receiving Body in Jamaica- 25.87 sq km (Surface Area) x 18m(Depth)

Main Sources of Effluent:- Sewage- Drainages- Industrial Discharges

Source: http://www.nrca.org/publications/brochures

Impacts on Kingston Harbour

Environmental:Algal proliferation

Bacterial / Faecal Contamination

Heavy Sedimentation-discolouration

Social:Loss of recreational activities

Loss of aesthetic value

Offensive odours

Source: http://www.nrca.org/publications/brochures

Kingston Harbour: Faecal Coliform

Source: CWQMP: July 2008- December 2009

KEY Green: Pristine Yellow: Threatened Red: Polluted

Kingston Harbour: Biochemical Oxygen Demand

Source: CWQMP: July 2008- December 2009

Green: Pristine Yellow: Threatened Red: PollutedKEY

Kingston Harbour: Nitrate

Source: CWQMP: July 2008- December 2009

Green: Pristine Yellow: Threatened Red: PollutedKEY

Kingston Harbour: Phosphate

Source: CWQMP: July 2008- December 2009

Green: Pristine Yellow: Threatened Red: PollutedKEY

CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIESChallenges:Enforcement

Verification Monitoring

Reporting from Stakeholders

Monitoring System- Frequency- Adequacy

Opportunities:Sustainable use of the Kingston Harbour.

Protection of Palisadoes Port Royal Protected Area/ Ramsar Site.

Preservation of marine life.

Identification of point and non-point pollution sources.

Reduction of Public Health risks.

What can WE do?...

STOP activities that result in poor water quality

*MONITOR water system regularly

REPORT abnormal occurrences.

*SAMPLE where necessary (Quality)

Conclusion

Water Quality must be regularly monitored with goals in mindWe all have a role to play:- Ensure improvement in water quality monitoring - Exercise best practices as it relates to the use of the Kingston Harbour

THANK YOU

Pollution Monitoring and Assessment Branch191 Old Hope Road

Kingston Tel: 927 -1552 / 927-1105 (Lab)754-7540 ( NEPA Head Office)