‘Villa Beach not safe for swimming’
Villa Beach has high coliform level and is therefore unsafe for swimming, said Engr. Noel Hechanova of the City Environment and Natural Resources Office.
He said the coliform contamination in the area is at an alarming state.
The problem is caused by incorrect septic designs of residents, he said.
The dirt or effluents coming from the septic tanks cause pollution in Villa beach, which usually happens in a densely populated area, he said.
According to a study, the presence of fecal coliform bacteria in aquatic environments indicate that the water has been contaminated with the fecal material of man or other animals.
At the time this occurred, the source water might have been contaminated by pathogens or disease producing bacteria or viruses which can also exist in fecal material.
Swimming in water that is contaminated by sewage, animal waste, chemicals, or other types of contamination can result in minor illnesses such as skin rashes, eye or ear infections, and upset stomachs, or more severe and potentially life-threatening diseases such as cholera, hepatitis and meningitis, a fecal coliform minifact and analysis said.
Hechanova said his office has established a program to address water pollution in the city especially in Villa Beach.*PIA6
