Property management company of Shatin Heights convicted for discharging wastewater into Shing Mun River
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The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) enforcement team carried out proactive inspection along the Shing Mun River last November and found that some turbid wastewater with bad odour was discharged unceasingly from the sewage treatment facility of Shatin Heights. The wastewater was washed down into the Shing Mun River via the communal storm drains and polluted the water quality of the river. A wastewater sample taken by the EPD staff showed that the level of E. coli had exceeded the permitted level of the WPCO by 119 times. The EPD initiated prosecution against the licensee, Hong Yip Service Company Limited, in accordance with WPCO after evidence gathering.
An EPD spokesman explained that untreated domestic wastewater contains a high level of E. coli and carries a large amount of viruses, bacteria and pathogens, which poses threats to public health and environmental hygiene. To protect the water quality of the Shing Mun River and safeguard public health, the EPD is conducting inspections along the Shing Mun River and measuring its water quality regularly in order to trace the contamination source and stop wastewater from entering the river. For the illegal discharge from Shatin Heights, Hong Yip Service Company Limited has already taken remedial measures to rectify its sewage treatment facility.
The spokesman reminded property owners, owners' corporations and responsible persons of property management companies 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 standard of the discharge licence into the communal drainage system commits an offence. Offenders are liable to a maximum fine of $200,000 and six months' imprisonment.
Ends/Tuesday, May 8, 2018
Issued at HKT 16:00
Issued at HKT 16:00
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