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Fishkill at Tanapag creek
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Posted on Oct 30 2005
Leaking sewage has contaminated a Tanapag creek leading to a nearby beach and has left several fish dead.
The creek, where some usually go to for fishing fresh water fish or tilapia, now has murky water that flows into the Saipan Lagoon.
The problem has been going on since almost two weeks ago, according to Tanapag resident Joe Ruak. It remained unclear as to how the creek became contaminated with sewage, but Ruak said that there was a former sewage pump station nearby.
The government has done no mitigating action so far, according to the Ruak family living by the creek. But the family said Commonwealth Utilities Corp. staff responded to the site recently and obtained water samples from the creek Friday.
CUC’s Vinnie Sablan told CUC staff members who remained at the site after the sampling collections that the water was indeed contaminated with sewage, according to Ruak.
CUC’s Damian Pua reportedly informed the Ruak family that the utility firm was still waiting for the green light from the Coastal Resources Management Office before it could pump out the contaminated water.
Last Saturday, the Saipan Tribune observed several dead fish on the creek and the flow of contaminated water into the nearby beach that was usually ideal for swimming.
“I’m sure that if the Division of Environmental Quality comes out and test the water, it will issue a red flag,” Ruak said. The DEQ regularly tests marine water quality from different beach sites in the CNMI.
