The waters of the beaches of Boca Chica, Guayacanes and Juan Dolio in the southeast of the country fall within the environmental parameters allowed for visitors to bathe in them, reports Diario Libre.
According to the Institute for Innovation in Biotechnology and Industry (IIBI) that analyzed surface samples taken by Diario Libre in the three beaches, their total coliform values are below 1,000, which is the maximum allowed by the Environmental Standard for Quality of Surface and Coastal Waters of 2012.
The most acceptable conditions are at Juan Dolio beach, below five in total coliforms and fecal coliforms.
Guayacanes beach follows with total coliforms below 50 and fecal coliforms below 35.
While Boca Chica has its total coliforms at 130 and fecal coliforms at the same value. Of the three southeastern beaches, Boca Chica also has the highest values of E coli, with 130 in 100 milliliters, these are 33 in Guayacanes and less than three in Juan Dolio.
The results were obtained from six surface samples taken by Diario Libre in two different points of each beach on 26 October 2021, which were duplicated and sent to the laboratory at noon on that date.
The first sample was taken at 8:41am and at 9:08am at two different points of the Juan Dolio beach.
The second sample was taken at 9:24am and at 9:38am at two places in Guayacanes.
Samples were taken at 10:10am and 10:22am at two points on the Boca Chica beach.
The samples were collected following the instructions indicated in these cases, refrigerated and taken to the laboratory, where they were delivered at noon and the results were received on 3 November 3.
Previously, investigative journalist Nuria Piera had ordered the waters tested and ascertained there is contamination. Her investigative team concluded that the main reason is the problems with the operation of the Boca Chica water treatment plant.
The debate regarding the waters of Boca Chica began after the head of the government’s water cabinet had said the waters were highly polluted. Gilberto Reynoso, executive director of the Abinader administration Water Sector Cabinet, said that these are highly contaminated.
“Possibly you take a child to bathe in Boca Chica and before 24 hours he has a fever, because it is highly contaminated, loaded with fecal bacteria,” said the official at the time.
He revealed that the Environmental Protection Agency of the United States analyzed that every bather who goes to the Boca Chica beach “comes into contact with at least two kilos of fecal matter”, said the water specialist.
He explained that the high contamination of Boca Chica is due to the fact that San Pedro de Macorís only treats 30% of the sewage generated in homes and that water treatment plants of La Altagracia and El Seibo are out of operation.
Subsequently, the mayor of Boca Chica, Fermín Brito Rincón, denied that the beach is highly polluted.
“Quite the contrary, for nine years Boca Chica has been reducing its contamination levels and its beach is safe for bathers and, according to him, this is confirmed by the studies of the Ministry of Public Health”, said the municipal official.
He assured that Gilberto Reynoso’s statements were taken out of context and called to continue visiting the place.
However, he pointed out that the municipality and the whole area require the construction of a sanitary sewerage system. The executive director of the National Institute of Drinking Water and Sewerage (Inapa), Wellington Arnaud, went swimming with his son in Boca Chica to demonstrate the waters are safe and said the government would begin the construction of the Boca China wastewater treatment plant next year.
The issue was widely debated in different sectors of society and generated diverse opinions among citizens. The Santo Domingo Yacht Club is located in Boca Chica and hundreds of hotels and beach town restaurants. Boca Chica is a lagoon that receives the waters from the southeast.
It is estimated that every year more than three million people visit the Boca Chica beach, located east of Greater Santo Domingo, including local and foreign tourists.
Read more in Spanish:
Diario Libre
El Nacional
N Digital
5 November 2021