Environmental officials inspect the Stung Sen Chey after liquid waste was discharged into it by a nearby factory. Environment ministry
A mango processing factory in Kampong Speu province has been issued with fines and ordered to restore a water source after being caught discharging polluted wastewater into a nearby stream.
The KRR Processing Food Co., Ltd, factory, in Phnom Sruoch district’s Yay Mao Pech Nil commune, was inspected by a team from the Ministry of Environment, as well as the provincial environment department, on February 19.
They determined that the factory has been releasing untreated wastewater into the Stung Sen Chey, a public water source which connects to the Sre Khlong stream.
On February 20, environment secretary of state Khvay Atitya explained that the inspection team discovered traces of wastewater flowing into the stream from an earthen canal at the rear of the factory.
The wastewater flowed from behind the factory to the Sen Chey Bridge, about 300 metres away. The inspection team collected three water samples from the Stung Sen Chey, with laboratory analysis confirming their suspicions.
“Local residents and authorities informed us that the company has been discharging wastewater from the mango factory into the stream, causing a foul odour and affecting the daily lives of the public,” added Atitya.
The authorities elected to enforce legal measures against the factory owner. The company is now required to pay a fine for its violation, provide compensation and restore the affected environment, in accordance with Articles 723 and 724 of the Environmental and Natural Resources Code.
Additionally, the company must seal the wastewater discharge canal, which was found to contain murky, foul-smelling liquid. It must also commission an environmental and social impact assessment report.
The factory has been ordered to improve its treatment pond to meet technical standards and create additional storage ponds to handle wastewater after treatment, preventing further pollution of the stream.
The ministry stated that based on the evidence and impacts observed, the company’s wastewater discharge caused pollution affecting public water quality, aquatic biodiversity and the well-being of local residents.
This violated Articles 156, 287, 289 and 290 of the Environmental and Natural Resources Code, as well as Articles 4, 6, and 9 of the new sub-decree on water pollution control.
In August of last year, the ministry fined Mong Reththy Investment Cambodia Oil Palm Company approximately $10,000 for releasing wastewater into Prek Kampong Seila, which resulted in water pollution and fish deaths.
