By Christopher E. Martin
This just looks like a picture of a rope in the Sea with green algae growing on it. Algae are known to be good indicators of pollution of many types. So this is actually a picture of organic pollution in the Mediterranean Sea along the beach of Gammarth. Organic pollution occurs when large quantities of organic compounds from many sources are released into the receiving waters, like the Sea. Organic pollutants originate from domestic sewage (raw or treated), or urban runoff, industrial effluents and farm water. Organic pollution could negatively affect the water quality in many ways.
If you walk along the La Marsa and Gammarth coastline, you will observe a significant Algae Bloom on rocks, wood, metal, anything in and out of the Sea. The organic pollutants come from the discharge of inadequate sewage treatment by ONAS and the overflow runoff from rain due to inadequate ONAS infrastructure. The wastewater from local restaurants, businesses and housing also contributes. ONAS, Ministry and Municipal Officials are all very aware of this.
Large and long-lasting pollution threats from organic pollution lead to high organic content in aquatic ecosystems and to eutrophication. It is a well-known fact that polluted water can reduce water quality thus restricting use of water bodies for many purposes, like swimming!
Pollution causing the closing of the beaches in the bourgeois communities of La Marsa and Gammarth may not be well received by the bourgeoisie. Imagine this in a country who’s battered economy depends on tourism at the beaches.
