A COMPANY HAS come forward and accepted blame for the spill in the Carli Bay River, Couva which turned the water fluorescent green on Monday and caused alarm for area residents.
In a statement from the Environmental Management Authority (EMA) on Tuesday afternoon, the Authority said it had been notified by Piranha International Limited that at around 7 p.m. on Monday there was an accidental spill of approximately 15 gallons of non-toxic tracer dye at its facility located in Couva.
The EMA said based on the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) the company has provided to the EMA, the substance does not present any environmental risks.
“Notwithstanding this, the EMA has mobilised a team to conduct investigations. The EMA will continue to closely monitor the situation and provide any relevant updates as they become available”.
According to the EMA: “This resulted in the release of the substance into the municipal drainage system and into the Couva River, which passes through Carli Bay, which caused discoloration of the water to a fluorescent green colour. The company has initiated cleanup activities in accordance with conditions outlined in its Certificate of Environmental Clearance (CEC)”.
Images of the bright green water course were posted by Facebook user Denyse Karissa Deowan, who commented “It is literally fluorescent green. All the fishes probably dying. Not to mention the caymans that live here probably have a different colour if they are alive still”.
Some commenters believe the colour is the result of an algae bloom in the river. Others believe it may be coming from a chemical or industrial company since upriver the chemical businesses, the water is running clear. (Express)
