A toxic, foul-smelling chemical extending into the Arabian Gulf is polluting the Saihat coastline in the Eastern Province.

The chemical has turned the color of the water a dark pink.

Hussein Al-Qahtani, spokesman for the Presidency of Meteorology and Environment (PME), said a team from his organization took soil and water samples. The test results would be announced soon.

Al-Qahtani said the color of the water was called Red Tide, because of the growth of algae in the warm temperatures.

"Preliminary findings for the change in water color point to a non-organic chemical leakage. These chemicals are usually toxic and harmful to marine life, but no fish deaths were registered. This is because the leakage might have occurred away from fish-rich areas. We need to determine the type of substance that leaked through the sewage system, and treat it," he said.

Residents of Saihat have stopped taking their families to the corniche because of the pollution.

Jafar Al-Maskin, spokesman for Al-Qatif governorate, said a team from the municipality, comprising two veterinarians, had also taken samples. The preliminary results ruled out a petroleum substance.

Jaafar Al-Safwani, deputy president of the Fishermen's Society in Al-Qatif, claimed that the chemicals were from local sewage treatment plants. He said these plants are not used internationally because they can only treat 30 percent of the total sewage produced. Chlorine is added to the rest of the sewage water, which is then dumped into the sea. He said this might have caused the color change.

He said Al-Qatif has a high percentage of toxic and chemical substances in its sewage water, which is a threat to human and marine life. He called on the authorities to replace these treatment plants with modern facilities.