Jawonday Smith On Water, Tanks & More

[Written by Stephen Wright]

A local environmentalist has stressed the importance of cleaning household water tanks and addressed the thought that the Bermudian rooftop always sufficiently cleans rainwater for consumption.

Jawonday Smith, who addresses the topic in a video he posted on YouTube, graduated from the University of the West of England in Bristol with a bachelor’s degree in environmental science and has a master’s degree in environmental engineering from the University of Leeds.

The 29-year-old has posted several videos on YouTube tackling environmental issues on the island over the past few years.

“After finishing university, I wanted to bring that knowledge back to Bermuda,” Mr Smith told Bernews. “I wanted to investigate things that intrigued me, one being the myth of water quality in Bermuda.”

Although Mr Smith believes there is room for scientific debate surrounding acquired immunity from consistent consumption of tank water, he said people should have their water tanks drained, cleaned and repaired every six years.

“I figure now is as good as any time to show Bermudians that our rooftops do not actually clean our water, and we should treat tank water as a raw water source,” he said.

“Many Bermudians hold fast to the myth that the rooftops clean our rainwater, which is just not true. It’s a harmful myth that needs dispelling.

“The Bermudian rooftop is a beautiful piece of architecture, but it is exposed to the environment and all sorts of things can land on top of it.”

Mr Smith has also encouraged locals to invest in installing a UV treatment system to ensure their water is always fit for drinking.

“You can get a UV filter for your household that purifies the water before it reaches your tap,” he said.

“It’s the most technologically advanced way to do it. At the bare minimum, you could get a simple filter to stop the larger particulates from entering what you drink.”

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Category: All, Environment