Land-Based Pollution Sources of the Marine Environment in Western Samoa: a Case Study
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South Pacific Regional Environment Programme Land-based Pollution Sources of the Marine Environment in Western Samoa: A Case Study by Dr Philomena Gangaiya University of the South Pacific Suva, Fiji and MrInia Wele Fiji School of Medicine Suva, Fiji Published in June 1994 in Apia, Westem Samoa , Ci.;'.:..l\.. Foreword This report presents the fmilings of a case study on land-based pollution sources in Kiribati. The study was commissioned by the South Pacific Regional Environment Programme as part of a regional pollution assessment and monitoring programme for the South Pacific. Kiribati was chosen as an example of a country where there is relatively little development. Land-based pollution sources are discussed under the categories of solid waste, domestic wastewater, industrial waste, wastes from agricultural activities and household hazardous substances. For each particular waste category an assessment of the legislative framework for waste management is carried out. This is followed by a presentation of the current system of waste management and the potential within the system for creating an impact on the environment. The testing of water quality at a number of sites in South Tarawa was carried out to establish the degree of contamination of resources. Some recommendations hlWe been made for improvements in waste management strategies. The study has shown that systems of waste disposal currently in place are having a noticeable impact on the quality of the environment. Remedial measures are necessary if the environment is not to deteriorate further. Vili A Fuavao Director, SPREP ii - -~ Acknowledgements The authors of this report would like to thank the staff of the Environment and Conservation for their assistance during this study. Mr Roger Conforth and Mr Pati Liu provided an initial overview of the waste management situation in Western Samoa and supplied copies of all relevant documentation. Special thanks are due to Mr Laavasa Malua who devoted an enormous amount of time and energy through out the visit in organising details of the solid waste survey, arranging introductions with various individuals and organisations and generally fulfilling the role of the local counterpart. Thanks are also due to Mr Laisiasa Tulega, the Environment Contaminants Officer at SPREP for making all the necessary prior arrangements for the study and to Talanoa, the MessengerlDriver at SPREP who drove uncomplainingly during many of our missions. Gratitude is also expressed to our respective employers for providing the necessary support to enable us to undertake the consultancy. 39 Contents Foreword......... ............................ ............ ......... ......... ........... .................. .... .................. iii 1. Introduction ...................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Objectives...................................................................................................... 1 2. Country Background ....................................................................................... 2 2. 1 Physical Environment ........... .......... ........... ............ ................... ................... 2 2.2 Land.............................................................................................................. 2 2.3 Population.......... .............. ........... ......... ........... ............ ....................... ... ........ 3 2.4 Economy and Resource Use.......................................................................... 3 3. Solid Waste ........................................................................................................ 4 3.1 Introduction ....... ........................................................................................... 4 3.2 Current System of Solid Waste Management in Western Samoa ............... 4 3.3 Assessment of the Waste Management System ........................... " .......... .... 8 3.4 Waste Management Plan for Western Samoa.............................................. 11 4. Industrial Wastes.............................................................................................. 13 4. 1 Introduction.................................................................................................. 13 4.2 Legislative Framework................................................................................. 13 4.3 Sources of Industrial Waste in Western Samoa........................................... 13 4.4 Assessment of Marine Pollution from Industrial Waste............... ............... 17 4.5 Regulation of Industrial Discharge... .......... ............. ............... ..................... 18 5. Domestic Wastewater ...................................................................................... 20 5.1 Introduction.. ................................................................................................ 20 5.2 Relevant Legislation ..................................................................................... 20 5.3 Methods of Sewage Disposal in Western Samoa.......................................... 20 5.4 Marine Pollution from Sewage..................................................................... 21 5.5 Initiatives to Improve the Situation..... ......... ............... .................... ... ......... 22 6. Pollution from Agricultural Activities......................................................... 23 6.1 Introduction .................................................................................................. 23 6.2 Legislation.................................................................................................... 23 6.3 Sedimentation .......................... ........ ............ ......... ..................... ................... 23 6.4 Fertilisers............................. ......... ........... ............ ............ ............................. 23 6.5 Pesticides............ ............. ........... .......... .......... ............ ...................... ............ 24 6.6 Initiatives to Control Agricultural Wastes.. ........... .............. ........................ 24 7. Water Quality of Coastal Waters ................................................................... 25 7.2 Methods of Determination. .......... ........... ............ .............. ............................ 25 7.3 Results .......................................................................................................... 25 7.4 Interpretation of Results .............................................................................. 25 7.5 Overall Patterns ........................................................................................... 28 8. Conclusions ....................................................................................................... 29 References ..... ...... ........ ............. ............ .......... .......... ............. ................... ........... ...... 30 iii MOLLUSCICIDE Trade Names Places Quantities* Blitzem mealdehyde Ag. Store & MH 900/g RODENTICIDE Talon b brodllacoum Ag. Store & MFI 277kg/313kg Storm flocoumaffen Ag. Store 68. 7kgl 166kg MITICIDE Kelthane dicofol Ag. Store Notes: Ag. Store: Agricultural Store MH: Morris Hedstrom * The quantities are for the Ag. Store imports for 1990/1991 only and are in litres escept where indicated. Pesticides used in Western Samoa which are banned, severely restricted or classified as restricted use pesticides elsewhere in the world and those classified as highly hazardous by the World Health Organization (WHO) (Mowbray, 1988). 38 Annexes ...................................................................................................................... 31 Annex 1: ..................................................................................................... 31 Annex 2: Work Programme During Visit................................................... 33 Annex 3: Survey on Solid Waste Generation io Apia................................. 34 Annex 4: Recommended Operation Plan for the Tafaigata Dump............. 35 Annex 5: Workiog table for the calculation of waste loads from domestic wastewater............................... ............................ 36 Annex 6: List of Pesticides Sold io Western Samoa (as of May 1991) ....... 37 iv Annex 6: List of Pesticides Sold in Western Samoa (as of May 1991) From Taylor (1991). HERBICIDES Trade Names Common Names })h.cilli Qull.lititie~~ Actril 2,4, -D + loxynil Ag. Store Agriquat paraquat Ag. Store 19,760/1,950 Basagran bentaxon Ag. Store /100 Butoxone 2,4, -D + dicamba Ag. Store Diuron 80 diuron MH Escort metsulfuron - Ag. Store 20g/ methyl Fusllade fluazitop-butyl Ag. Store /60 Gramoxone paraquat Ag. Store 49,980/38,140 Round-up glyphosate Ag. Store & MH 120/148 Sting glyphosate Ag. Store 3,608/3,164 INSECTICIDES Actellic Dust pirimiphos-methyl Ag. Store /625 kg Attack p-m + permethrin Ag. Store /390 Baygon Propoxur Ag. store Decis deltamethin MH Dipel Bascillus Ag. Store 48 kg thruengiensis Flcam bendlocarb Ag. Store 1425 kg Furadan carbofuran MH 200/ Lepidex tri-chlorion Ag. Store Malathion 50 malathion Ag. Store 150/ Maldison malathion Ag. Store Naled dibromec MH Tridex tri-chlorion Ag. Store & MH FUNGICIDES Bavistin carbendazin Ag. Store & MH Benlate benomyl Ag. Store 156kg/67kg Calixin tridemorph Ag. Store & MH Mancozeb 80 mancozeb MH Manzate 200 mancozeb Ag. Store 20kg/20kg Milcurb dimethirimol Ag. Store 140 Perenex cyprous oxide Ag. Store Punch flusilazol Ag. Store 82/65 Sumisclex