*********************************************************
In response to a media report that leachate was still being discharged from the North East New Territories (NENT) Landfill into the Kong Yiu River, a spokesman for the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) made the following clarification today (October 2):
The damaged leachate lagoon at the NENT Landfill was repaired and has resumed operation. The EPD has not found any leak or overflow from the leachate lagoons of the NENT Landfill thereafter and all facilities are in normal operation. The department has re-inspected all leachate lagoons at the landfill and confirmed that there is no damage.
The EPD has also stepped up monitoring the performance of the landfill contractor to ensure that the leachate lagoons have sufficient capacity to contain the leachate generated from the landfill and cope with the weather conditions.
To treat the leachate generated, the landfill is properly designed with facilities to intercept surface runoff from the landfill. Collected wastewater is treated by the wastewater treatment system. The department has enhanced its monitoring to ensure that the landfill facilities are in good condition so as to avoid the discharge of leachate to areas outside the landfill.
To enhance transparency, the EPD will arrange to release the water quality monitoring of the Kong Yiu River and relevant information on the department website weekly starting this Friday. The latest data will be uploaded to the website in two weeks.
Regarding today's newspaper report, the department does not rule out the possibility of a small amount of leachate residue being found in the channel of the Kong Yiu River after the leakage of leachate from a lagoon in the landfill last time. EPD staff will follow up and investigate the matter. Nevertheless, no significant ecological value is recorded along the Kong Yiu River. The leachate residue will not cause serious environmental impact to the ecology and public health.
Meanwhile, the EPD has stepped up enforcement action and sent staff to obtain water samples from the Kong Yiu River following the special meeting of the Legislative Council Panel on Environmental Affairs on September 17. The laboratory results are pending.
Ends/Wednesday, October 2, 2013
Issued at HKT 20:18
NNNN
