To stop some of the unfounded rumors...

Every now and then a combination of sea conditions bring on the cleansing of our Caribbean Sea of lots seaweed. This occurred once again last month when Hurricane Sandy passed over the island. Many pics of the seaweed have been posted on various trip reports here on our Negril Message Board. And as anyone who lives by the sea knows all too well, seaweed begins to create a rather vigorous aroma as it decays.

Along with these high seas, sea water was pushed up the South Negril River (near the roundabout downtown) and then came back out to sea along with the darkened colored river water that filters through the Great Morass. This is a normal occurrence and can spread along the coast of the West End or the main beach depending on the sea currents. This helps to restore the natural balance of the ecosystem of Negril.

This past week we have been questions from concerned visitors to Negril regarding this situation. It would seem that some individuals who may have been here at the time have taken these two events (the seaweed decaying on the beach and the river water darkening the sea) and concluded that "systems have broken down and the ocean water is foul..." which is a completely false assumption. As far back as November 1996 we have dealt with these unfounded rumors - this was prior to most travel sites and was on what was called the "Newsgroups" back in the early days of the Internet. Here is a link to the Negril Today page I wrote back in 1996:

http://www.realnegril.com/beingees/nn141196.htm

As mentioned, those who live by the sea know this is a natural event that happens from time to time, as these two further Negril Today pages clearly demonstrate - one from December 1997 thanking the late Jimmy Jackson for his help:

http://www.realnegril.com/beingees/nn221297.htm

As well as one from November 2001:

http://www.realnegril.com/beingees/nn091101.htm

We hope that this clears up the misinformation that people may be hearing about our tropical paradise of Negril.

Does any one ever test the water Quality on Negril beach?

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Originally Posted by Rob

Every now and then a combination of sea conditions bring on the cleansing of our Caribbean Sea of lots seaweed. This occurred once again last month when Hurricane Sandy passed over the island. Many pics of the seaweed have been posted on various trip reports here on our Negril Message Board. And as anyone who lives by the sea knows all too well, seaweed begins to create a rather vigorous aroma as it decays.

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It's been the same way as long as I've been around Negril (1969). It's a natural occurrence.

Don't worry be Happy

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Originally Posted by pine tree john

Does any one ever test the water Quality on Negril beach?

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In addition to the Jamaican Government NEPA measurements, there are numerous private organizations that do monitor the water quality. The United Nations Eco Unit did a major study just a couple years ago...

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Originally Posted by Rob

In addition to the Jamaican Government NEPA measurements, there are numerous private organizations that do monitor the water quality. The United Nations Eco Unit did a major study just a couple years ago...

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Where can a person access these reports?

I would be interested to know who monitors the effleunt flow from the Negril wastewater treatment plant and if they ever completed the planned upgrades from a year or two ago.

Regards,

Bob

But Rob, you must realize that the internet, and especially some other message boards, thrives on rumor and innuendo:)

Thanks for always striving to keep the information above board.

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Originally Posted by rjonsun

I would be interested to know who monitors the effleunt flow from the Negril wastewater treatment plant and if they ever completed the planned upgrades from a year or two ago.

Regards,

Bob

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Bob,


The improvements were completed in March of 2012:


http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/weste...Plant_11023978


NEPA and the NWC are the government agencies involved in the regular monitoring.

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Originally Posted by suzengrace

Where can a person access these reports?

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Give Google a try...

Its interesting that humans sometimes get put off by entirely natural phenomena if it displeases one or more of our senses. I understand that in La Jolla Ca. they have roped off the cliffs due to erosion, leading to return of birds and seals. The poop accumulation has fermented into an offensive smell that has hotel owners and restauranteurs upset. I know it must be frustrating Rob when nature gets misinterpreted.

Thanks for the link to the treatment plant upgrade. I toured the plant 2 years ago and plan on stopping in again in the next couple of weeks to see what was accomplished.

Regards,

Bob

No worries...

Since I stay where the brown water reaches when it does appear, I'm well aware that visitors are put off by this. I try to explain that it's OK & offer the idea that they think of it like tea - colored water - not dirty water. That doesn't always work or help much. What helps even less is that the Jamaicans are yelling at people to get out of the water because it is no good. Of course, visitors believe them over me since they live there & would know. (Got that response many times.) I probably won't give up trying to educate but once people get an idea in their head, it's not easy to change their thinking.

Most Rivers that flow out of swamp or bottom land such as the moras is called black water...It is from the leaf decay and the tanic acid that NATURE puts into the water...Hince the Black River....if you have ever seen the rivers that flow out of coastal Georgia most of them are "black' water. It is a natural event and is not from sewage or human waste...It is the in thing right now to blame humans for every event on earth but it is not the case in the Negril or Black rivers.....Those rivers ran black when the Arwarks fished them....

"It is from the leaf decay and the tanic acid that NATURE puts into the water..."

I explain that the discoloration comes from the leaves, the tanic acid, thus the tea analogy. It doesn't matter.

On Jamaica's reefs, it is a GOOD thing when all that 'sea weed' gets deposited on the beach, especially if it is removed so that it cannot re-enter the sea. 'Sea weed' that is growing on the reefs shades out the corals. When it is removed, it allows coral larvae the space it needs to attach and grow. The efforts that were made to removed the plants from the shoreline eliminates the possibility of the plants washing back into the ocean, where they would otherwise deteriorate and break down to their constituent elements of phosphorus and nitrogen -- only to become fertilizer for the next generation of 'sea weed'. BIG UP to all those who removed the plants from the seashore!!!

On the seaweed topic... I always thought it was not a good idea to bury it. After seeing the pics after Sandy came through I did some research. Seaweed from many FL beaches is either carted away (not that feasible in JA) or buried. For numerous reasons there is more seaweed this year in the FL & Caribbean area. Getting it out of the water IS a good thing. Burying it is fine.

Important & informative thread. Thanks to all who've contributed &, of course, Rob for addressing the issues.

to me jungle or tropical ground water run off is not "Black" water, "brackish" yes...........animal-human waste run-off, now THATS "Black Water".

Re: To stop some of the unfounded rumors...
to me jungle or tropical ground water run off is not "Black" water, "brackish" yes

Brackish and black water are not the same...Brackish water is both salt and fresh water and may or may not be brown (black water)...I have been way up the Black River to where it is totally un-salted and it is still "Black water" but not brackish as it is past where the inland tide reaches it. Black water is what some of us that have lived in the swamp or close to it call it. I lived inland in Savannah way past any salt or brackish water and our river flowed from the Ogichee
swamp. We lived on the Little Ogichee River and it was exactly the same color as the negril River and Black River in Jamaica. Totally "clean' but stained. We were at least 25 miles from the sea and no salt water at all...Black water is merely a term we used but like Yvonne said will look like tea or evern darker....It is natural color from the tanic acid in the leaves. This is where the color in the Negril River comes from and not from your use of the term black Water...

As someone who works in the wastewater field, I can unequivocally state that ground water run-off has a much higher fecal coliform content than I would be willing to injest. Of course the more paved surface, the greater the problem as the soil doesn't have a chance to filter the water.
Regards,

Bob

Much appreciation for the insight....

Bob, good points but we are I think at least i am talking about rivers and not runoff..When i lived by the swamp any fecal coliform was not from humans if it was there it was gators, birds, deer and other wild stuff and they don't have access to sanitary sewer systems....But the river was black (stained) from tanic acid. just as the Negril river is..

This thread makes me laugh... Rob, having to spend time clearing up stuff because people are silly... I'm used to Myrtle Beach in SC which is kinda gross... so the ocean water in Negril could be puke green or purple & I'd still come and swim in it!!! :) Isn't that what anti-bacterial soap is for anyway? ;)

If you dip a clear plastic cup in the Black River the water is crystal clear it is the bottom that is black. Our tour guide did this I was amazed.

BR Mo,n ultimately run-off ends up in streams and rivers. Just because fecal coliform isn't human doesn't make it any less dangerous. Granted, the dark water is from the tannic acid in the river and not the treatment plant. However, when I saw the disinfection system 2 years ago at the treatment plant I chuckled to myself because the word inadequate doesn't even come close to describing how little it accomplished. I am interested to see if the improvement at the treatment plant included disinfection.

Regards,

bob

Bob,

It will be great to hear your update on the improvements - your last take from June in 2011 was helpful!

http://negril.com/forum/showthread.p...=4885#post4885

Hey, GarySteph.....now don't go insulting Myrtle Beach! Come on now lol
(You know that's where I am from) HA!

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Originally Posted by marley9808

Hey, GarySteph.....now don't go insulting Myrtle Beach! Come on now lol
(You know that's where I am from) HA!

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​That explains a lot

Booger.....how did I know you would have a comment?!?!?! lol

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Originally Posted by marley9808

Booger.....how did I know you would have a comment?!?!?! lol

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Tiz hasn't thrown any slow pitch lately so I had to branch out. :cool::p

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Originally Posted by marley9808

Hey, GarySteph.....now don't go insulting Myrtle Beach! Come on now lol
(You know that's where I am from) HA!

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Oops ... Totally forgot! But at least you were smart enough to leave & stay gone! I left SC and came back!! :)

and Booger ... We can't all be California Girls :)

I was there for Sandy and saw the sea grass phenomena and smelled the aroma. But I also saw that the situation was being dealt with in a rather assertive manner by most resorts and the Jamaicans, almost to a person, were not the least bit fazed. I realized that it wasn't the first episode for this and it won't be the last. I just hope the next time that it doesn't occur while Mi Lady and I are on the island - seen it once, marveled at the power of the sea, don't need to repeat.

Has the water cleared up? If not, does anyone's crystal ball know when it will? Going in January for our honeymoon, we live on a murky lake, i want blue water, lol.

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Originally Posted by slugger

Has the water cleared up? If not, does anyone's crystal ball know when it will? Going in January for our honeymoon, we live on a murky lake, i want blue water, lol.

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The water will occasionally become discolored close to town. It only affects a small area & lasts a short period of time, like a few hours. In the 5 weeks I was there this summer the river "came in" only 3X.

What you see in the background of my pic is what the water looks like 99.999% of the time.

Ok Rob-please help me out here..I goggled and searched and could not find anything regarding reports of water quality in Negril-anything recent at least .Found one great scientific article -but from 1996 and wasnt too positive about the health of the water. I know theres a new sewage treatment thats been put in since-but cannot find these many reports from organizations that were hinted to,..Could you please direct me to the places of more recent reports you may know of...As someone who cares about the environment, Jamaica and Negril I'd like to know what is the current health of the water that surrounds Negril (beaches, cliffs,etc).Using search engines isnt really getting me any recent info..

This is the 1996 report that i found: globalcoral.org/water_quality_in_the_negril_area.htm.

BTW-it is very true a waters color may have nothing to do with water quality. here in so cali. the oceans/beaches may look as they always do(no change of water color,etc), but are tested on a regular basis and esp. after rains often have levels of pollution (esp sewage run-off) too high to allow swimming -(ie signs on the beach with warnings)-so brackish looking water does not mean its unhealthy-hopefully just mother nature doing her thing..

Suzen,

That nearly 20 year old report from 1996 based on monitoring taken place over 2 decades ago in the late 80's and early 90's, as well as even earlier reports were exactly why the water treatment plant and sewer system were proposed, planned and completed in the first place. The late Katy Thacker (and founder of the Negril Coral Reef Protection Society) was instrumental in that old report. She was one of the original fixtures here in Negril on the ecology front.

As for reports that would have been made since the water treatment plant was completed in 1999, the two most important places to check have already been named. As has been mentioned, NEPA and the NWC are the two main agencies that are monitoring. Both these websites are easily found by Googling "nepa jamaica" and "nwc jamaica". Both of these websites have search capabilities which allow you to search their entire site.

On a quick check for the NEPA site, a search for "negril water quality" brought up 10 pages of results. As someone who cares for the environment, I am sure that you will find a plethora of thorough scientific reports that are much more recent as well as much more meaningful and useful on both of these sites.

As also mentioned, the United Nations has done a recent study in Negril, and those can be found surprisingly enough by googling "negril united nations" and "negril united nations water quality". This will also lead you to studies conducted by the University of the West Indies, which from there you will be able to find even more information. As you noticed, some of the reports are rather out of date and serve nothing more than a historical reference at this point, but there are many more recent studies that you can peruse.

Ras! I am shocked! You mean - like are you actually saying - everything I read on the net is not true? Shocking! Who knew? Idiots can post? Wow! (Clearly, Maggie, they let you post :)

Dash - humans are put off by natural pernomena .... and yet - we think it's OK to dump all the waste we do! And then we say "Eeeeuuuuuuw! It smells." Helllloooooo?

Ooops! Thanks, as always, Rob, for sorting us all out on that! You one smart lad, dude!

Thank you Rob-
I will be contacting the some of the above people at various sites..just curious if they have a regular monitoring schedule of the water and what the results were-ie hoping the new sewage treatment plant is having an affect. I know when I first came to Negril in 83 -that the reefs/coral etc are now nothing like they once were-.....with all the new buildings and influx of new people in the negril area and surrounding communities (Sheffield, etc) (not just beach)hoping the sewage treatment can handle all that...and where exactly does the treated sewage go ?????

Would have never guessed to search for negril water quality under United Nations- ....interesting

Suzen,

I am not sure why you are surprised about searching for the UN report as I had mentioned that particular report in the 4th post in this thread.

As for the hows and whys of how the sewer and water systems work, you might want to read up on the history of water treatment as far back as the Mycenaeans in 2500BC - your own city's water treatment owes much to these brilliant ancient people.

I am pleased that you are taking the initiative to contact the people who will actually be able to answer your specific questions that concern you. Your technical questions are obviously best answered by those representing the entities already mentioned.

The NWC website dedicated much of the content on the site stating exactly how, where and why their modern water treatment plant handle all aspects of their system. It might be helpful to spend much time reading the information already on their site before emailing and asking questions whose answers are easily found on their site.

But once again to clear up any confusion, as a general overview for those who may not know, I will add some comments that may help clarify some of the comments you are making here.

It is common knowledge (and easily googable) that there has been worldwide reef changing/damage for decades - even the Great Barrier Reef which is nearly half way around the world near Australia is effected. The Negril study from 1996 that you mentioned was created using data from the late 1980's and early 90's - and that was well before most of the new construction in Negril, surrounding communities and influx of new people to which you refer occurred. It was also prior to the construction of the Negril Water Treatment Plant. The coral reef changes were already being documented at that time as the report clearly stated.

Since there are changes/damages happening to coral reefs worldwide, and the reefs in Negril were already being changed/damaged as far back as the late 1980's, it seems that you may be taking two separate events (the reef changes that are being experienced in Negril and all over the planet) and the small population growth of the Negril area, and thinking there is a direct one to one relationship, which is not the case. In fact, the existence of a water treatment system is helping to improve the water quality. The reasons for the reef changes are not as simple as you may wish to believe.

The water plant was designed with the local population growth from 1991 to 2001 in mind, which according to the NWC was 4184 to 5823. That was when the Negril area was growing at its fastest measured rate. The initial growth in tourism was also taken into account with an expected over 2 million visitors a year to Negril - which seems to have been a bit of wishful thinking. This estimate has turned out to be a number closer to the total number of overnight visitors to all of Jamaica, not just Negril. But to err on the high side is a benefit to everyone as the initial system was designed to handle that number.

According to a 2001 study created by the USAID organization from the United States (Coastal Water Quality Improvement ProjectUSAID Contract No. 532-C-00-98-00777-00), the water treatment plant was also planned for use and upgrades using estimates of the local and tourist population taken into account as far in the future as the year 2015.

As has been mentioned, there have been upgrades to the system that were completed in March and as things change in the future so will the planned upgrades.

While no water system is perfect and there are still some rural communities that are still not served by the NWC in Jamaica, for anyone to smell rotting seaweed and somehow jump to the conclusion that the water treatment and sewage systems are at fault are simply not dealing with reality. When I first had to address this situation in 1996 on Negril.com it was somewhat excusable as Google nor Yahoo existed. Just a very inferior internet search feature called "gopher". But with all the information available easily on the internet these days, there is truly no longer any excuse for such uninformed and irresponsible behavior.