KINGSTON, Jamaica — Jamaica’s marine environment is heavily polluted, according to the most recent findings by the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ).

The PIOJ’s findings are published in the 2024 edition of the Economic and Social Survey Jamaica (ESSJ). According to the survey, assessment of marine water quality was conducted at eight focal areas across the island, using four indicators: nitrates, phosphates, biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and faecal coliform.

“The minimum acceptable standard for all indicators was exceeded,” the survey found. It found that assessment of marine water quality at the majority of sites monitored within these areas exceeded the acceptable standards for phosphates (91.0 per cent) and nitrates (82.0 per cent).

The highest levels of phosphates were recorded at Mallards Bay within the Rio Bueno-White River watershed focal area, with a reading of 0.49 milligrams per litre (mg/L). The acceptable reading is 0.001- 0.003 mg/L. The survey found that the highest levels of nitrates were recorded at Rolling Bay, within the Rio Minho watershed focal area, with a reading of 5.34 mg/L. The standard acceptable reading is in the range of 0.007 – 0.014 mg/L.

“Contrastingly, the proportion of sites exceeding the acceptable standards for BOD and faecal coliform was limited to 29.0 per cent and 38.0 per cent, respectively”.

Meanwhile, the PIOJ said assessment of freshwater quality was conducted at seven watershed focal areas across the island, using the same four indicators.

“Most sites operated with acceptable standards for all indicators,” said the PIOJ. It explained that the number of monitoring sites assessed for nitrates was reduced during the reporting period and should not be compared to 2023.

It also shared that there was a notable improvement in compliance with the acceptable standard for faecal coliform across the watershed focal areas despite a number of sites recording faecal coliform levels in excess of 1 600 MPN (most probable number) per 100 millilitre in two watershed focal areas—Rio Grande and Rio Bueno/White River—three fewer than in 2023.