Asia-Pacific News
Southern Taiwan construction site threatens to pollute seawater
Nov 16, 2011, 11:30 GMT
Kaohsiung, Taiwan - A land reclamation project in the southern Taiwan city of Kaohsiung turned seawater within the fill zone to an odd colour, local media reported Wednesday.
News commentators likened it to the shade of a 'Tiffany gift box' or a glacial lake with heavy mineral sediment.
Television images showed dead fish on the water's surface.
The landfill contractor is using slag, a by-product from the process of making steel. It was reacting with the water, air and sunlight to create the effect, according to local authorities, who said it was not toxic.
But environmentalists insisted the water quality had deteriorated.
National Kaohsiung Marine University professor Shen Jian-chuan told the Apply Daily that the pH level of the seawater in the inlet was at 12, which can damage skin. Normally, it should be 7.5 to 8.
Local environmental groups said any water leaking out of the fill zone could harm the surrounding coastline and marine life.
Taiwan's environmental minister promised Wednesday to investigate.
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