Is my water safe to drink? Does Bermuda have acid rain? What are the consequences of seepage from my cesspit?

If you have ever wondered about the answers to these questions, Dr. Kent Simmons, Associate Research Scientist at the Bermuda Biological Station for Research (BBSR) may have them.

Dr. Simmons will be giving a lecture tonight at BBSR when he will answer the question: "Is pollution threatening our environment?"

Dr. Simmons spoke with The Royal Gazette recently and said his talk will be about the journey of water in Bermuda.

He will start with water falling as a rain drop and follow it through several different scenarios depending on where it lands.

He will explain where that drop of water picks up pollutants and where it gets rid of pollutants.

Dr. Simmons will describe what happens when water enters our tanks, what happens in the water table, as well as implications of polluted water in caves and in the marine environment.

He hopes the talk will explain pollution as it threatens our environment and he hopes to address concerns of the Island's residents.

Dr. Simmons said there was a talk last month by Dr. Tom Church concerning pollution reaching our shores from outside sources, such as America and Europe.

"My talk starts where the last one left off," he said.

He said there were a number of issues that warranted discussion such as pollution from Belco, the Tynes Bay Incinerator and from the Island's more than 50,000 two and four wheeled vehicles.

Dr. Simmons will also explain where pollutants such as phosphates and nitrogen are produced and what happens as they pass through Bermuda's limestone rock and water reserves.

When asked how polluted Bermuda was, Dr. Simmons said it was not overly polluted and said the way any environment works is by pollutants being assimilated into that environment.

And he said that Bermuda's problem was one of population.

He said: ``The environment assimilates waste products put into it, and if this is at a slow rate, then we will see no effect.''

However, he said that when a population grew and reached a point where the pollutants were put into the environment faster than they could be assimilated, then problems occurred.

Dr. Simmons said the mission of BBSR researchers was to try and help the environment but noted: "People are concerned about pollution in Bermuda, but they have to realise that they need to do their part in stopping the pollution."

His lecture will start at 6.30 p.m. today at BBSR and will be followed by a reception.

Donor admission is free and general admission is $10. To reserve tickets

call 297-1880 ext. 206, or e-mail: apopebbsr.edu.