Thoughts - Poop, Pee, Garbage and Island Pollution
Lukunor Atoll FM
I've spent the morning exploring Pacific Islands using Google Earth while watching Saturday College Football. During my travels, I checked out Lukunor Atoll and noticed something that shows up all too frequently - people pollution.
Lukunor Atoll - The populated motu (1,000+)
What is that dark stuff along the lagoon shore of this motu? I think it is people residue - poop, pee and garbage. It only shows up where people live. These populated atolls aren't known for their state-of-the-art sewage facilities. Most often the poop, pee and garbage end up in the lagoon. I can't speak for Lukunor, but the sewage and garbage most likely ends up in the lagoon. Just a guess.
Lukunor Atoll - The populated motu (1,000+) Detail
This looks like people pollution to me. Especially, when you compare this populated shoreline segment with an uninhabited motu within the same atoll.
Lukunor Atoll - Populated motu and unpopulated motu
The motu on the right is populated. The motu on the left is unpopulated. One motu is marked with an unnatural dark stain along it's shore while the other looks natural. Let's zoom in on the clean shore and take a look.
Lukunor Atoll - Unpopulated motu and a pristine shore
This is an image of a clean shoreline. This motu seems to be unpopulated - no people poop, pee or garbage. This lagoon is flushed continually by the deep blue sea which gains access through some very large hoa's. The atoll would be able to maintain a decent level of cleanliness if it weren't for the people. We apparently generate much more pollution than the normal flushing system can handle.
People will live on islands. They will poop, pee and generate garbage. We need to do a better job at handling the pollution we generate. I know that the issue of pollution control on small islands is one that is oft discussed, but apparently difficult to solve. I don't have a ready answer, but the damage created is visibly evident. We need to be excellent stewards of our world. It is the only one we have.
Enjoy!
It would be great if you could provide Google Maps links or Google Earth placemarks for the islands you are talking about.
This would allow all of us interested in island geography easier navigation to the locations.
Here's an example of a GM link for Lukunor Atoll:
http://maps.google.com/maps?&ll=5.463237,153.769455&spn=0.24436,0.410614&t=k&om=0
Posted by
Anonymous |
10/23/2006 10:34:00 AM
Marine algae (seaweed) probably, established and widespread from the nutrient source (poop and pee) on land. You wouldn't see distinct patches like that if it really was sewage in the water. Unless it was a fast, high concentration discharge like you'd find next to a coastal rivermouth, for instance. These are on the seafloor.
This is occuring all over the world, though as you say... inland, especially. Just because the water is clear doesn't mean it can't make you deadly sick from contamination.
Posted by
Anonymous |
10/24/2006 07:34:00 AM
I am very glad for everyone's concern about this island - especially because I am from that island. Life on this island is very simple. We don't have running water, electricity, cars, let alone a sewer system. What you see as the dark areas in the water is seaweed. Im no marine biologist but it could definately be related to the waste. Much of the garbage is thrown in ditches and covered when its filled up. Eventually, there will be no where else to dig. Solution? I don't know. No one makes money here. All are farmers and fishermen but perhaps education would be a great step for keeping this island clean.
Posted by
Ben Rayphand |
8/10/2009 08:22:00 PM