Restaurant at Kam Tin Yuen Long convicted for excessive wastewater discharge
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The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) enforcement officers conducted a blitz inspection at Kam Tin Yuen Long last October and found that turbid wastewater was being discharged from the grease trap of the aforementioned restaurant. It was suspected that the wastewater had not been properly treated before being discharging into the communal drain. The EPD officers then collected wastewater samples for analysis and the results showed that the oil and grease, suspended solids and biochemical oxygen demand in the wastewater exceeded the wastewater discharge licence limits by two to four times. After evidence gathering, the EPD initiated prosecution against the licensee in accordance with the WPCO.
The EPD spokesman said that the location concerned is an unsewered area. Anyone who discharges sub-standard wastewater into a communal drain will pollute nearby waterways and adversely affect the environment and public hygiene. The spokesman reminded the responsible persons of restaurants that they must properly repair and maintain wastewater treatment facilities and strictly adhere to the discharge standards as stipulated in the licence to prevent environmental pollution.
Under the WPCO, anyone who discharges wastewater which exceeds the standards of the discharge licence into a communal drain commits an offence. First-time offenders are liable to a maximum fine of $200,000 and six months' imprisonment.
Ends/Tuesday, May 29, 2018
Issued at HKT 15:30
Issued at HKT 15:30
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