Researcher Ketut Sundra, from the Department of Biology at state-run Udayana University in Denpasar, said that laboratory tests on seawater from six popular tourist beaches showed they were polluted.
“The lab test results showed the presence of pollutants that exceed the environmental quality standards at all six beaches,” Sundra said.
He named the six beaches as Kuta, Legian, Nusa Dua, Jimbaran, Tanjung Benoa and Canggu, all of which are located in Badung district in the southern part of Bali, an area that is particularly popular with tourists.
Speaking at a seminar at his university, Sundra said that samples of the seawater were taken during both the dry and rainy season in 2008 and 2009, and that 19 parameters were tested.
“Kuta, Legian, Jimbaran and Nusa Dua can be categorized as lightly polluted, while Tanjung Benoa and Canggu are moderately polluted,” he said.
He said that eight pollutants had been found on the beaches, meaning that the seawater failed to meet the standard necessary to be classified as clean.
Sundra said that among the pollutants found were nitrates, nitrites, phosphates, cadmium and lead. However, he gave no figures for the levels of each pollutant in the water.
Sundra blamed the pollution on ineffective waste management by hotels, restaurants and other hospitality and tourist-related businesses in the area.
Six Tourist Beaches in Bali Are Polluted, Lab Tests Show - The Jakarta Globe
“The lab test results showed the presence of pollutants that exceed the environmental quality standards at all six beaches,” Sundra said.
He named the six beaches as Kuta, Legian, Nusa Dua, Jimbaran, Tanjung Benoa and Canggu, all of which are located in Badung district in the southern part of Bali, an area that is particularly popular with tourists.
Speaking at a seminar at his university, Sundra said that samples of the seawater were taken during both the dry and rainy season in 2008 and 2009, and that 19 parameters were tested.
“Kuta, Legian, Jimbaran and Nusa Dua can be categorized as lightly polluted, while Tanjung Benoa and Canggu are moderately polluted,” he said.
He said that eight pollutants had been found on the beaches, meaning that the seawater failed to meet the standard necessary to be classified as clean.
Sundra said that among the pollutants found were nitrates, nitrites, phosphates, cadmium and lead. However, he gave no figures for the levels of each pollutant in the water.
Sundra blamed the pollution on ineffective waste management by hotels, restaurants and other hospitality and tourist-related businesses in the area.
Six Tourist Beaches in Bali Are Polluted, Lab Tests Show - The Jakarta Globe