Lax dumping rules behind dirty sea water?

• Clivebenss

  21 Jun 10, 08:41

  Jun 21, 2010 - ST Forum
  

  Lax dumping rules behind dirty sea water?

  I HAVE lived in Singapore for more than 20 years and am a big fan of how clean and green the country is.

  I applaud the efforts of those who have made it this way. I wonder, however, if the same care is extended to Singapore's surrounding waters.

  Whenever I swim in the sea, I notice that the water quality looks bad and my skin starts to itch after I come out of the water. I love the ocean and coastal areas in general, and have travelled enough to know that these are not signs of a healthy marine environment.

  I have heard that Singapore is one of the few countries that does not require shipping traffic and industries to treat their waste. Is it really true that tankers are allowed to dump their untreated waste into the sea without cost or recrimination?

  I would like to know why Singapore's surrounding waters are so dirty and what is the official policy towards water pollution by the main offenders, be they vessels or industries.

  Yumiko Davis (Ms)

• Clivebenss

  21 Jun 10, 10:08

  Too much dumping on this sea lane.