Use of massive Porites

William Allison wallison at dhivehinet.net.mv
Thu Aug 1 03:49:15 EDT 2002


Illustrating Mike's Porites porosity point,
slabs of Porites were the preferred material for
constructing well liners in some parts of Maldives.

William (Bill) Allison
Coral Reef Research and Management
Rangas, Violet Magu
Male
Maldives
(960) 32 9667
wallison at dhivehinet.net.mv
----- Original Message -----
From: Michael Risk <riskmj at mcmail.cis.mcmaster.ca>
To: Abigail Moore <abigailyacl at yahoo.com>
Cc: Ron Devine Vave <S96007966 at student.usp.ac.fj>; coral list
<coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov>
Sent: Thursday, August 01, 2002 7:58 AM
Subject: Re: Use of massive Porites

> I have already replied privately to Ron; your wider inquiry prompts this
> response.
>
> Surely the wharf- and sea-wall building activities of the Bugis and Badjo
> have already cleared more corals from those shores than could possibly be
> used in septic tanks...
>
> 1. Porites is the most "porous" of the Scleractinians, hence its name. It
> would make superbly absorbent tank-linings: but the stuff is going to
> leach right through.
>
> 2. It is against the law, throughout Indonesia, to collect live corals for
> this or any other purpose-so there is an enforcement problem.
>
> 3. because the septic waste itself will leach right through a Porites
> wall/lining, there will be all sorts of public health implications. It
> will be an educational problem, but: light-aggregate (coral rubble)
> concrete tanks make excellent holding vessels.
>
> I agree that this is a problem, but the reefs of Sulawesi face larger
> challenges than being used as septic tank materials-most of them receive
> the same material, in somewhat more dilute form, whilst still
> alive...check out the extent of damage of the raw sewage plume from
> Manado.
>
>
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