Dangriga water polluted, citrus waste suspected

Tonight, Dangriga residents are drinking beer, juice or bottled water as their municipal water source is strongly believed to be contaminated. Residents were first alerted to the crisis when they witnessed the unusual sight of fish rising limp to the surface and river lobster crawling unto the banks. This amateur home video shows the scene this afternoon in the town. News Five understands that in addition to the dead fish, there is the strong stench of citrus rind emanating from the water.

Charles Wagner, Dangriga Resident

“About 3:10, I saw the lobsters and the fishes start floating and the lobsters start coming on land, so I called attention to these few kids that are around me, to start picking them up. Then I called your attention ma’am, to come and check it out. As you said, it is a serious thing and we also smell the rind from the factory out here. So we also called the mayor and he said that he will make some further calls to check it out further with authorities.”

The Public Health Bureau is asking people from Dangriga not to eat any of the fish retrieved from the river. News Five contacted Cecil Arnold, Environmental Affairs Officer for the Del Oro company, who told us that they are aware of the situation and are conducting their own investigations. Arnold says the recent rains have caused the leachate ponds to overflow and the citrus waste might have gotten into the river. According to Arnold, the company has done tests along the riverbanks but so far have found neither dead fish or smelt any rind. He does say that the overflow might have already made its way to the mouth of the river. Arnold says there is no chance of any kind of chemical contamination, but says they have advised WASA to switch from river intake to its well supply until the pollutant runs out. Leachate ponds are places where the orange and grapefruit peel discarded by the factory are dumped. According to the government press office, the Dangriga branch of the National Emergency Management Organization is meeting tonight to assess the situation and take whatever action is deemed necessary. The Department of the Environment and the Fisheries Department are also on the scene.