Rt€@lll

-13
In Kiribati, however, me exarnple of a reversal of the normal problems has ccurred.
Dunping does ccur but in 1982 it was found thet the solid wastes could be put to good use
in a particular situation. In the Temaiku Bite m Tarawa, land recleimed in the early 1970's
had been producing very poon coconut palms with chlorosis dle to iron, potassium and trece
element deficiencies. Honever, in 1982 it was found that the addition of solid urban waste to
the site produced a marked improvement - I messege for other atoll inhabitants - do not
waste weste (m in the wordg of Peter Thacher, one man'8 pollutant is anotherre resource).
One last feature of the rrconcentration effect'r is the impact of subsistence farming on
the hills surrounding the major urban centres like Suva end Le. Here cultivation m steep
slopes together with highly erosive rainfall causes severe erosion; the eroded products are
carried down into the sea nearby and damage Lhe reefs which are again a nnjor subsistence
food resource.
Industrial wastes
Very f ew studies have been made into the composition and ef fects of industrial
(non-mining) wastewater discharge in Pacific Island states. Examples have included: fish
processing westes in Pago Pago, Anerican Samoa (Soule and Oguri, l98l); edible oil plant
waste in Suva, Fiji and sugar mill effluent in Labasa, Fiji (Lee, 1979, l98l). The Samoan
study investigated the fate of the wastes frorn the two cenneries in Pago Pago and their
public health implications in early 1982. One of the canneries is now being forced to improve
waste disposal while the other had already voluntarily installed anti-pollution reasures.
In Fiji the edible oil plant investigation found that the problem of srnell and high BOD
values in the Gawa River was a consequence not just of the actual dunping of industrial
effluent hrt also of the nature of the river at the discharge point (Lee, l98I). The river ie
slow moving and meandering with a depression in the river bottom close to the discharge
point. Tfe high density, organically-rich effluents sink into this depression, deoxygenating the
river at that point and creating a problem for the local inhabitants particularly during the
'rdry" season when the river flow is particularly sluggish.
Conclusion
There are other problems thet could be discussed, wch aa the impact of mining
operations, hrt it is obvious from the topics covered that in the Pacific Islands the present
position of limited pollution probbms could change rapidly.
It is essential that we obtain rnore basic information about our various ecosystems and
that they be regularly monitored so that any pollution problems that may occur can be
detected early enough to prevent rnajor irreversible damage occurring. Only in this way can
we be sure that our presently very hospitable environnent is protected.
REFERENCES
Brodie, J. E., G. W. Lee and Regina A. Prasad. 1981. Well-water quality in South Pacific
lslend stetes. 5. Pr. J. Net. Sci. 4:14-11.
Brcdie, .}. E., K. Chand and R. I Morrison. 1984. Appraisal of the Li.,lEP nethods for
determining pollutants in coestal wsters for use in the Pacific Islands. Institute of Netural
Reeources, Environnpntal Studiee Report No. 17. University of the Sor.rth Pacific,Suva, Fiji.
Caldwelt Connell Engineers/Cqnmonwealth Department of Transportation and Cmstruction.
1982. Report m receiving weter study - Kinoya sewage treatment plant. Prepared for
Pr.blic Works Department of Ministry of Works end Cqnmunications, Suva, Fiji. August
1982.
Lee, G. W. 1979. Report m the discharge by Fiji Foods factory into Walu Bay creek.
Institute of Netural Resources, Environnental Studies Report No. 4. Universily of the Sqth
Pacific, Suva, Fiji.