PANJIM: Goa’s well-known beaches are turning toxic. The Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) has observed that major beaches - Miramar, Calangute, Morjim, Tiracol and Vagator in North and Mobor, Baina, Velsao and Galjibag in South are most polluted with high levels of faecal coliform. 

The water quality data analysis for the year 2021-2022, also revealed that State’s major rivers - Mandovi, Zuari, Sal, Tiracol, Chapora and Sinquerim are highly polluted. “Faecal coliform is exceeding the permissible limit as per CPCB classification. In addition, waters at a few of the above locations, at times, indicate non-compliance to the prescribed limits in respect of Biochemical Oxygen Demand (B.O.D.) or pH and hence, in general, water quality at these locations is not satisfactory,” the Board said in its report. 

The level of faecal coliform was found to be in the range of 110-790 per 100 ml of water during most part of the study period. The GSPCB study looked at the water quality with respect to major indicators such as biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), dissolved oxygen (DO), faecal matter of humans and other animals (faecal coliform), total dissolved solids (TDS), turbidity and 45 other parameters.

When contacted, a GSPCB official said that various factors can be attributed to the presence of faecal coliform bacteria in the water but the most common is the disposal of untreated or partially treated sewage. “The beaches and rivers are facing a serious threat from pollution and the rapid development,” the official said. 

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