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In response to media enquiries about the discharge of surface runoff at the West New Territories (WENT) Landfill last year, a spokesman for the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) made the following clarification today (August 29):
During a routine inspection on July 26, 2012, officers of the EPD suspected that there might have been discharge of leachate at the WENT Landfill into a storm water drain that flowed into Deep Bay. Water samples were taken on the same day by the law enforcement team for further analysis.
Subsequent investigations revealed that there was no leachate leak and the discharge was surface runoff due to the heavy rain in the previous few days. The analysis results indicated that the pollution level of the discharge, though higher than normal, was not in excess of the licence standard under the Water Pollution Control Ordinance. All leachate lagoons of the landfill were confirmed to be in good condition. The EPD enforcement team therefore did not proceed with prosecution.
The EPD will continue to monitor the operation of the landfills to ensure waste water from the landfills is treated and discharged properly.
Ends/Thursday, August 29, 2013
Issued at HKT 18:29
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