Kg Ayer Found Wanting In Cleanliness
By Azlan Othman

Bandar Seri Begawan - Majority of Kampong Ayer villages recorded an average level of cleanliness, according to the five-year study conducted by Universiti Brunei Darussalam with the support of the Ministry of Development.

However, the downside is, 40% of the tourists said the water village is dirty and the types of rubbish observed were mainly plastics (bottles, bags, and packaging and oil containers) at 67%.

The study, which was conducted by the Institute of Medicine and Chemistry Department of UBD, concerned health issues in Kg Ayer like sanitation. Head of villages, school principals, general practitioners and tourists were interviewed during the study. The outcome of the study was revealed during the recently concluded two-day Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei Darussalam medical conference at the Rizqun International Hotel in Gadong over the weekend.

The study on the level of cleanliness covered all the 37 villages in Kg Ayer. In their findings, 15 villages, or about 40.5%, recorded average cleanliness level while seven villages or 18.9% recorded very clean level. Five villages scored clean level (13.6%) while six villages recorded dirty level (16.2%). Four villages (10.8%) recorded very dirty level.

Questionnaires were distributed to tourists who had visited Kg Ayer by two local tour operators at the departure hall of the Brunei International Airport. Tourists' perception of Brunei is that it is a clean and pleasant place. However, some tourists have different opinions concerning their visits to. Kg Ayer with respect to water quality, rubbish and plastics caught up in water taxi propellers.

Forty per cent of the tourists when interviewed said Kg Ayer is dirty, 25% said it is clean, 20% very dirty and another 15% gave other reasons. Sixty-seven per cent of the types of rubbish were plastics (bottles, bags, and packaging and oil containers). It was followed by rubbish bags & other bags (11 %), wood (4%), baby diapers (4%), sandals (4%), cans (4%), used tyres (2%) and papers 2%.

The study also highlighted that pollution in the river around Kg Ayer is caused by direct disposal of solid waste and effluents and although an effluent disposal system has been introduced in Kg Ayer, its coverage is very limited.

The river water quality in and around Kg Ayer is of paramount importance not only because it will be a major factor in determining the health of people who live and work there but also because the presence of large amounts of rubbish creates a negative impression on tourists and this directly affects the boatmen who take visitors for sightseeing around the village.

The responses of the village heads were remarkably similar concerning rubbish disposal. A few thought that there was a problem concerning the quality of river water, local sewage system or the current system of rubbish disposal. There is a household rubbish collection system in place and all houses have been provided with rubbish bins.

The study also revealed that in interviews with school principals, it was said' that the schools always maintain its cleanliness by having morning cleaning routines, awareness activities and cleaning campaigns.

Most school principals acknowledged that there was a problem with rubbish disposal in the river and the students were taught not to throw non-biodegradable items into the river. Even though the students are taught to dispose rubbish properly, sometimes they carelessly threw the rubbish directly into the river.

General practitioners meanwhile said skin conditions such as scabies, eczema, and fungal infections are common among Kg Ayer residents, as are minor gastro intestinal complaints. These illnesses are associated with poor hygiene, cramped living conditions and the lower economic strata.

The doctors also stressed that rubbish in the river is an important issue along with broken walkways and cats' droppings.

The overall perception is that Kg Ayer is full of rubbish and the quality of the river water and living conditions may be giving rise to low-grade illnesses. Village heads acknowledged that it is an ongoing problem, which requires a quick solution.  -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

Click Here To Have Your Say On This Story

Brudirect.com News

Brunei's Fastest Growing Website with