PUC urges stop to activities that pollute water sources |17 June 2023

Mr Diallo inspecting the rubbish    

The Public Utilities Corporation (PUC) is calling on members of the public, especially the youths, to stop doing their picnics at the Grand Anse Mahé River as their actions are polluting water, the source of its catchment in the area.

It was the general manager for the water division at PUC, Ibrahima Diallo, who made the call following a media visit to the area yesterday morning. He was accompanied by the region’s water supply supervisor, Danny Laurette and Vicky Berlouis, the assistant water supply manager.

The water catchment is a large part of the river, nearly the size of a 25m swimming pool, situated higher up in the forest. To reach the water catchment in the hidden vegetation, one has to walk on slippery rocks and boulders. The company also has another water catchment some 200 metres further uphill, which is its main source of catching water in the area for distribution. Water from the catchment down below is pumped only in times of dry weather when water is scarce. Through its submersible pump, the water goes to the Grand Anse treatment centre before being distributed to residents in the district and to other residents in other districts in South Mahé and down to Pointe Larue.

Mr Diallo said that people, especially the youths, coming from across different parts of Mahé, frequently come to bathe in the water, even naked, among other acts committed which is polluting the water.

He noted that given the distance from shopping facilities, they would bring along food and drinks to consume where after, among other kinds of rubbish produced, the remains are left behind all over the place, including in the river and nearby vegetation.

He added that they also hold barbecues which could result in a huge forest fire given the amount of vegetation present.

“People coming here must realise that their activities are polluting the water. If they continue to bathe in the water and pollute the water, we will not be able to use it. It will be water wasted, especially now that we are in the dry season and the water level in our main water catchment is further going down. I would urge them to stop coming here and to stop bathing in the water.They are polluting an important water source that the country has and which is very vital for many people,” Mr Diallo said.

Mr Laurette who supervises the area, said that apart from mutually advising people to leave the area, he had called for police assistance many times with regard to people bathing in the water catchment. He added that most of the time they will run upon the arrival of the police only to come back later after the police have gone. He added that they conduct clean ups twice a week in the area to remove rubbish left behind by picnickers.

“Some will even bring children with them, going down through those rocks and boulders and they would swim in the small pool. It is a very dangerous place for children to be,” Mr Laurette said.

Mr Laurette said that many warning signs have been put up in the past but they have all been removed. He added that they even put up a chain across the entrance leading to the road up to the river to stop transport coming to the area but it was also broken.

“They remove the signs just to argue when they are apprehended bathing in the water, that no bathing warning signs were present. That’s the whole idea of removing the warning signs,” he added.

Given the forestry area is a nature trail and cannot be fenced off to prevent people from coming to visit, Mr Diallo said that PUC, on the other hand, would like to see other partners like the Seychelles Parks and Gardens Authority (SPGA), the district authority, the department of Environment, the Public Health Authority and the Police, among other affiliated parties in the protection of the environment, to help in the protection of the water catchment and prevent the country from losing a water catchment which is very limited.

“Apart from ours, I would like to see more police patrol in the area or from SPGA if possible because people are coming here on a daily basis. Some presence of authority from time to time helps to deter people from doing things that they are not supposed to do,” Mr Diallo said.

Text & photos by Patrick Joubert