Following news reports last month that the National Roads Authority (NRA) was discharging stormwater well debris into a wetland area off the Linford Pierson Highway, Water Authority – Cayman agreed to scientific tests to characterise the waste. Members of the Authority’s Water Resources & Quality Control department were in the field this week collecting water and sludge samples to be tested internally and overseas.
The team, comprised of Laboratory Manager Marcela-Martinez Ebanks, Laboratory Technologist Jerry Banks and Water Resources Technologist Yasmin James, took samples from a stormwater well, the disposal site, and a wetland control site. The Authority’s Lab will run tests on the samples for total coliforms, including E. coli, nitrogen, and phosphorous. The samples sent overseas will be tested for the presence of heavy metals, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs).
Ms. Martinez-Ebanks explained that the results of the tests will give the Authority a better indication of the microbiological and chemical characteristics of the waste and the receiving surface waters.
“Once we have a better understanding of the characteristics of the stormwater well waste and the environment at the disposal site compared to the control, we will be in a better position to advise the NRA on an appropriate disposal method,” she said.
Although stormwater wells are intended to collect non-toxic rainwater runoff, the Water Authority occasionally receives reports of stormwater wells being used as dumping sites for hazardous substances such as vehicle fluids, cleaning fluids, etc. As a result, the discharge pumped out of these stormwater wells may contain contaminants that would make it unsuitable to discharge into the environment without treatment.
The NRA’s well vacuuming programme has been halted until the tests are complete and an alternative disposal solution is determined.
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The Water Authority is the statutory body responsible for public water and wastewater services in the Cayman Islands. The Administrative Headquarters is located at 13G Red Gate Road, George Town, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands.
