The Loimata o Apaula river from Lalovaea to Mulivai is not safe for now.
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As such, members of the public living along the river have been warned against using the river as the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (M.N.R.E) continues to monitor the situation.
Backing up a public notice already issued about the problem, the Chief Executive Officer of M.N.R.E, Suluimalo Amataga Penaia, said the decision has been made to warn people as a precautionary measure.
“It’s not that someone has poisoned the river or something else,” he said.
“It’s just that the Ministry is warning the public to stop using the river while we are monitoring it and seeing whether there are health problems if people continue to use the river.”
The C.E.O said M.N.R.E is working with the Ministry of Health.
“We are monitoring the river to see if it safe or not,” said Suluimalo.
“Part of it includes alerting the public to stop using the river for bathing or any other activities while we are carrying out our work."
“As you can see, some of the illegal actions being done to these rivers (Vaisigano and Loimata-o-Apaula) are increasing and they all end up back in the coastal area which is not very good for our environment.”
Suluimalo said the Ministries are also cleaning the rivers as they continue their monitoring project.
“When our investigation and monitoring is completed, we will again tell the public that the river is safe,” he said.
When that is likely to happen, the C.E.O did not say.
“We just want to warn the public to stop using the rivers for now.”
Resident at Togafu’afu’a, Tauma’oe Tilali, said that he was thankful that the ministry is now working towards the problem.
“I hardly see anyone taking a bath in the river because the smell and the colour of the river is getting worse every day."
“Past years, this river helps a lot when water supply is disconnected to this area….but… now no one wants to use it anymore.” he said.
Mother of two, Feva’ai Talolo said that she used to walk pass the river everyday to drop her son at Marist Primary at Mulivai.
“Some people threw rubbish and other vehicle parts into the river not thinking what tomorrow will bring and for the lives of these children."
“It’s everyone's responsibility to report to Police what's happening here to these rivers."
“Hope the ministry will solve the problem for the good health of these young ones at Marist Mulivai Primary School."
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