Hot Spot Assessment Diagnostic Tool for SIDS - CEP Technical Report 95

This technical report presents a comprehensive field assessment tool, specifically crafted for rapid evaluation of pollution risks at sites that may threaten freshwater and coastal water quality. As a diagnostic resource, it guides field personnel through structured checklists organized by land use type—residential, commercial, industrial, or agricultural—ensuring a thorough, objective survey of potential pollutant sources. The approach relies on tangible indicators tied to physical, chemical, and biological contamination, minimizing subjectivity and training requirements. Notably, the tool assigns weighted scores to variables based on their likelihood to impact environmental quality, such as soil degradation, chemical storage, waste management, and proximity to sensitive watercourses. These scores enable immediate prioritization of sites for further investigation and targeted intervention, optimizing efforts to safeguard the northwestern coastal waters of Saint Lucia.