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LONE BATHER: Despite warning signs, Mr Lawrence Tang, 62, has been taking daily dips off Pasir Ris Beach. -- ST PHOTO: LAU FOOK KONG
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BATHERS may have been warned not to swim off Pasir Ris Beach yesterday, but doing so in other areas is fine.
The National Environment Agency (NEA), which carried out tests at several other spots, said water quality at Seletar Island, Sembawang Park, Changi and East Coast Park is 'good'.
Sentosa came out tops - the water quality at its beaches was deemed 'very good'.
Water quality at all functioning reservoirs here was also tested and given the thumbs-up.
Only that at the Marina Reservoir, which is still under development, was not cleared.
The NEA decided to warn against swimming off Pasir Ris Beach because high levels of bacteria normally found in the faeces of warm-blooded animals were found in the water.
It said the action was taken because Singapore has adopted new, more stringent water-quality standards based on World Health Organisation guidelines, and not because water quality in the area was worsening.
It is not clear where the bacteria in the water comes from, NEA said.
Mr Tan Qwee Hong, its pollution control director, said there could be a number of possible reasons, which will be studied and determined by next April.
'It could be riverine activities, storm water run-off after heavy rains, or even animal or sea bird waste, but it is not from permanent point sources such as treated effluent or sewage flowing into the sea,' he said.
A report commissioned by Malaysia and Singapore in 2006, however, said several rivers leading to the Johor Strait caused pollution from untreated sewage, and wastewater from industries and agriculture at source.
Meanwhile, the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) said yesterday that seafood from seven fish farms off Pasir Ris Beach is safe to eat despite the levels of bacteria found there.
The farms produce fish such as snapper and sea bass, as well as crab and other shellfish.
AVA said it conducts regular checks for microbes in the water which can cause poisoning in fish, and none is present.
skesava@sph.com.sg
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