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[av_heading heading=’‘NOTHING TO FEAR’ | Boracay water safe despite algae – EMB’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”][/av_heading]
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Sunday, March 26, 2017
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The scorching heat of the summer sun is driving people to take a dip in Boracay Island’s cool waters. Despite the algal bloom, water quality in Boracay remains within standards, according to the Environmental Management Bureau. GUIJO DUEÑAS/PN
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ILOILO City – Despite the algal bloom, water quality in Boracay Island remains within standards, according to the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) Region 6, a line agency of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
“The algal bloom is an unusual, even ugly sight for many tourists visiting the world-famous beach. But there is nothing alarming about it,” stated the EMB.
The recurring appearance of green algae in Boracay’s otherwise white-sand beach raised concern on the safety of tourists and the island’s ecological health.
But the water quality assessment EMB conducted in Boracay last month had the following results:
* The total and fecal coliform was within the standard of 200 most probable number (mpn) / 100 ml as primary parameter under DENR Administrative Order (DAO) 2016-08.
* Generally, coliform results for calendar year 2016 were lower compared to 2013 and 2015. Overall average total and fecal coliform concentration decreased for the past five years.
* Phosphate concentrations are compliant and within the standard of 0.05 mg p/l for both Class SB (fishery, tourism, recreational) and Class SC (fishery, recreational, marshy) waters.
The Boracay algal bloom, deemed dirty, “is “actually a work in progress, a natural phenomenon and is part of the ecosystem cycle,” stressed the EMB.
It occurs at the onset of the summer season in February and ends in May.
“An algal bloom indicates presence of nutrients in water as well as other contributory factors such as sunlight availability, surface temperature and sea dynamics. It’s a natural phenomenon that may have adverse consequence to the aesthetic of the beach but it does not mean that the coastal waters of Boracay are unsafe,” said Arjunn Marven Calvo, chief of the Planning Programming Environmental Education and Special Concerns Section (PPEESCS) of EMB.
Since green algae compete with the photosynthetic activity of other marine aquatic life such as sea grasses and corals, it eventually wins. Meanwhile, aquatic marine life that thrives on sea grasses and corals are temporarily deprived of their food and habitat, according to EMB park superintendent Dennis Piñosa.
But the whole picture does not end there. He said after the summer season when the seawaters become cooler, the algal bloom ends.
“In time, what is green that covers the front beach turns white. It becomes the famous white sands of Boracay which is cool to the feet even with the hot midday sun,” according to the EBM in a news release.
This transformation is accepted as “normal occurrence” by the natives of the island. They thus call the green algae their “sand.”
But according to the EMB, what actually contributes to algal bloom are the presence of nitrates which is one of the content of many liquid soaps and shampoos.
Also contributory are the phosphates which are common ingredient in agricultural fertilizers, manure and organic wastes in sewage and industrial effluent.
“The concentration of nitrates and phosphates in water results to eutrophication (nutrient enrichment) which is a major factor to algal bloom,” explained the EMB.
The other factors as explained by the bureau are the following:
* Temperature – When water temperature is higher and there is increased light, growth of green algae is sustained.
* Light – Green algae have optimal growth when exposed to intermittent high light intensities.
* Stable Conditions – Green algae love stable water conditions with low flows, long retention times, light winds and minimal turbulence.
* Turbidity – This is caused by the presence of suspended particles and organic matters (flocs) in the water column. Low turbidity occurs when there is only a small amount of suspended matter present in the water column. When this happens, water moves slowly or stagnates and more light penetrates through the water column which then creates optimal condition for algal growth.
Two weeks ago, in a bid to allay public fears, Department of Tourism regional director Helen Catalbas said, “We are firm on our stand as a body that the algal bloom in Boracay is a blessing, not a curse, because when contained properly, the presence of algae keeps making Boracay what it is.”
Just this March 8, DENR director Jim Sampulna said untreated wastewater was causing the algal blooms, citing his agency’s research last year.
The research was a repeat of a previous research that had similar results, added Sampulna.
DENR should be updating its study on algal bloom and the situation of pollutants in the resort, said Catalbas.
“The results of your study will be my documents in discussing with the stakeholders there, in campaigning for saving Boracay from greedy practices, hence prevent ecological imbalance,” she added.
Algae are attracted to untreated wastewater, said Sampulna.
He specifically cited soap and detergents in untreated wastewater produced by informal settlers and being flushed out to the sea.
Sampulna did not discount the possibility that some establishments and residences may be dumping untreated wastewater into the sea.
It is not necessarily the tourists that pollute Boracay but the greed of some establishments which make money at all costs, said Catalbas./PN
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