Test conducted after residents complained about the smell and extraordinary amount of dead fish floating on the surface
NIKKI.SUN@SCMP.COM
PUBLISHED : Wednesday, 23 December, 2015, 8:51pm
UPDATED : Wednesday, 23 December, 2015, 9:19pm
The water is near to a dragon boat racing training centre and many athletes have complained about itchy skin. Photo: Jonathan Wong
People who row dragon boats along the Shing Mun River are in danger after a water test found that the level E coli was 1,300 times higher than the acceptable amounts set by the environmental protection department.
The test was conducted by a private research company hired by Sha Tin district council after athletes said they had reactions on their skin following training and residents complained the water was smelly and contained a large number of dead fish floating on the surface.
The water, near to Fo Tan, is not far away from a training centre for dragon boat racing – a popular Chinese water sport – and the area is also surrounded by high-rise residential and commercial buildings, schools and playgrounds.
“We couldn’t believe the striking level of E coli after we got the results” said Scarlett Pong Oi-Lan, a district councillor in Sha Tin.
After the results were double checked, Pong was convinced the river’s level of E coli was at its highest point since 1995.
“We are pretty sure it was caused by an unusual increase of faeces in the water,” said Pong, adding that she believed it was “either a leak of a dung channel or an illegal dump”.
Pong said the water could cause an itching reactions if it came into contact with human skin and cause vomiting or diarrhea if accidentally drunk.
“It is especially dangerous for people who play water sports in the area, given the serious levels of bacteria,” Pong added.
She confirmed that the dragon boat association had already received several complaints from the athletes.
In addition to E coli, other gauges of the test, such as pH value, total suspended solid matter, nitrate and nitrites were all also found to exceed safe limits.
The pH value was 5.7, implying the acidity of the water is three times higher than the standard range and the level of total suspended and solid matter – which prevents sunlight from getting under the water – was four times higher than the acceptable amount.
Pong suspected an illegal dump of industrial waste from nearby factories had caused the sudden deterioration in the water, which she said could also threaten the livelihood of sea creatures.
http://m.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/1894402/unusual-increase-faeces-hong-kongs-shing-mun-river
