MPs are calling for fresh studies on pollution levels in the Tubli Bay area to find out why thousands of dead fish continue to regularly wash ashore.
The area’s five MPs, led by Mohsin Al Asbool, want the relevant government authorities to present an updated analysis to highlight any contamination, alongside a risk assessment on levels considered dangerous.
“No one can deny that there have been huge government efforts to clean up the bay over the years from the time it appeared to be a dumping ground for mass sewage residue,” said Mr Al Asbool. “But something continues to be wrong as fish deaths have continued.
“That is why we need fresh studies to allow us to understand whether the water from the Tubli Wastewater Treatment Plant remains adequately safe or only up to a level in certain conditions.
“People are worried that fish being sold in the market could carry diseases or have genetic mutations that may affect their health.”
The MPs believe that a new official investigation and study on pollution levels would also determine whether there was any threat to the health and safety of residents and also take into account air quality and emissions by local factories and industrial establishments.
An environmental study of the bay and the surrounding areas in Eker, Ma’ameer and Sanad was carried out in 2020, under the directives of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister.
Causes and reasons for the mass fish deaths at the time were outlined in the report but MPs fear that not enough has been done despite the Works Ministry widening water channels to allow improved water circulation in Tubli Bay.
The study followed an investigation in the same year that was launched after videos circulating on social media showed dead fish washed ashore in Ma’ameer and Eker villages.
Initial findings blamed red tide and an increase in pollutants in the water for the incident.
Red tide is a phenomenon caused by algae blooms which deplete oxygen and release toxins in the water.
As part of the probe, experts from the Supreme Council for Environment (SCE) conducted field visits and carried out water quality tests. The SCE found an increase in pollutants like ammonia and faecal bacteria attributed to sewage dumping.
This is not the first time that dead fish have washed ashore; around 50kg appeared on the Ma’ameer coast in August and October 2019. The earlier incident took place days after a similar occurrence in nearby Tubli Bay.
The GDN reported in February last year that more than BD100 million would be spent on schemes and projects to preserve Bahrain’s only protected water bay.
Former minister Essam Khalaf told former MPs that water circulation channels at Tubli Bay will be expanded while efforts will be made for eco-friendly disposal of treated sewage water.
The bay is rich with shrimp and rare birds and was declared a protected zone in 2006 after years of illegal land reclamation.
The southern channel of the bay stretching up to 750 metres has been widened from 30m to 180m, six times the previous size, while it has been deepened up to two metres.
In the second project, the Ma’ameer water pathway has also been expanded by an additional 120m to elongate flow. The third project took place under the Shaikh Jaber Al Ahmed Al Sabah Highway.
The government aimed to reduce the water circulation time from 110 hours to 74 hours once the works had been completed and connected.
Mr Khalaf said at the time that the plant was also set to see many developments. The Hybrid Activated Sludge system introduced in 2013 has been expanded to treat 100,000 cubic metres of sewage daily by adding 130,000cu m in 2021 at a cost of BD13m, which means it is now treating 230,000cu m daily.
The plant capacity would also reach 400,000cu m in 2023 with work on sludge treatment facilities complete this year. The sludge drying factory within the bay would be completely revamped and would see 40 tonnes treated daily.
“We want to restore the bay as an ecological-friendly area, where people can breathe fresh air, enjoy a healthy breeze without having to smell the irritating foul stench,” added Mr Al Asbool.
“We hope that one day the bay returns to being a destination for locals and tourists wishing to sail, fish and enjoy their time away from city life.”
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
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