UAE | Environment

Sewage puts a stop to sailing at club

Raw sewage floating in the harbour and on the beaches of the Dubai Offshore Sailing Club (DOSC), which annually hosts sailing regattas for its 3,000-strong members, has put a stop to any swimming or sailing.

  • By Emmanuelle Landais, Staff Reporter
  • Published: 23:39 September 24, 2008
  • Gulf News

  • The problem worsened on Tuesday night when a closed-off storm drain was reopened and sewage that had collected over several days flooded the harbour.
  • Image Credit: Megan Hirons/Gulf News

Dubai: Raw sewage floating in the harbour and on the beaches of the Dubai Offshore Sailing Club (DOSC), which annually hosts sailing regattas for its 3,000-strong members, has put a stop to any swimming or sailing.

Beaches in the Jumeirah area have also been affected.

According to the management at the Dubai Offshore Sailing Club (DOSC) sewage and faeces has been a problem at the club for the last three months.

The problem worsened on Tuesday night when a closed-off storm drain was reopened and sewage that had collected over several days flooded the harbour.

"It's a major problem. I've prohibited swimming and sailing at the club. I have complained about this many times before, but nothing was done.

"We have now done our own water sampling tests," said Keith Mutch, manager of DOSC.

The Club opened in 1974 and this is the first time anything like this has happened he said.

"We tested the harbour and the fishing harbour next door, the beach to the side of us and the sand and it's all covered in E. coli and faeces.

"Last Thursday, the storm drain, from where the sewage is coming out, was closed and we started cleaning up. But on Tuesday, at 9pm, it was opened again. I can't possibly put anyone in the water," said Mutch.

The club is affiliated with the Royal Yachting Association (RYA), which is the licencing authority for DOSC's sailing activities.

In the past, RYA had suspended the licence on inspection. It agreed to re-issue the license on condition that DOSC would carry out monthly water sampling tests.

"With the sewage treatment plant being over-capacity, trucks are emptying their tanks instead of queuing up for 12 hours at the sewage plant," said Mutch.

The Commodores Cup competition next week may be cancelled.

DOSC member Gerry Cummings told Gulf News: "The smell is just awful."

Mohammad Abdul Aziz Najem Al Awadi, head of the sewage treatment plant at Dubai Municipality, said: "Projects are under way to overcome this situation with illegal tankers. Violators are being fined."

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Has your beach trip been affected due to sewage dumps, recently? Do you think the beaches are safe to swim in? Have you ever fallen sick after visiting a beach?

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