"Algae bloom" - that's the scientific term for what's happening in the Sibun river near Gracie Rock village, which turned green on Friday. What's causing it? Well that's a much more difficult question with no easy answers. Environmental officer Martin Allgeria today confirmed that the department of environment will be requesting the records of three operations that are upriver, namely Fresh Catch Fish Farm, a BWSL water treatment facility and a smaller Taiwanese fish farm. Initial observations seem to point most compellingly to Fresh Catch where one of the canals had a buildup of algae in it. Those canals were emptied two weeks ago and because of the extended dry, it may have taken a long time to travel down river. That's just one theory at this point and it is not yet confirmed, as tests have to be conducted and records must be reviewed. For now, the good news is that there has been no appearance of the type of mass fish kill that often follows an algae bloom when all the oxygen supply is sapped up by decomposing algae.
When we spoke to villagers this evening, they reported that the river was turning from green to brown because of the weekend's heavy rain. A public health team has also been dispatched to see if the water is safe for drinking.