The environment ministry has determined that a pig farm in Kampot province’s Teuk Chhou district was discharging untreated wastewater into a public canal, resulting in the death of fish. Environment ministry
The Ministry of Environment has ordered an immediate halt to the discharge of untreated liquid waste from a pig farm in Kampot province’s Teuk Chhou district. The farm’s operators have been fined for discharging into a public canal.
On June 17, a working group from the ministry, joined by officials from the Kampot Department of Industry, Science and Innovation and local authorities, discovered water pollution in the O’Thom canal. The pollution was caused by wastewater from the So Savoeun pig farm, located in Kon Sat village. The pollution caused the death of several fish.
Today, June 20, the ministry reported that the inspectors observed that on the boundary of the farm, the water in the canal had turned a greenish-brown colour and had a slight foul odour. At a drainage point within the private land, they found dead fish and water with a brown hue and a strong stench.
Speaking to the inspection team, a representative of the farm claimed that no pigs were currently being raised, stating that operations had been suspended for the past two months.
“Local residents reported that this section of the canal has previously been affected by wastewater discharged from the nearby pig farm, turning the water black and foul-smelling, especially after rain, and sometimes resulting in fish deaths,” the ministry stated.
The inspection found that the farm had a liquid waste holding pond that was not constructed in accordance with technical standards. The farm had been pumping waste into coconut fields inside the premises, which then flowed into the canal, causing environmental contamination, fish deaths and foul odours.
The ministry issued several measures, ordering an immediate cessation of all wastewater discharge outside the farm, especially into the public canal, and issuing a fine for violating environmental protection laws.
The farm was also obliged to pay compensation for environmental damage and accept responsibility for restoring the canal and upgrading its wastewater storage facilities to meet legal standards.
The ministry demanded that it submit an environmental monitoring and investigation report to the provincial environment department and provide notification of any change in farm location or cessation of pig farming activities to the department.
Legal procedures under the Law on Environmental Protection and Natural Resource Management will continue.
At least 31 factories and companies have been found discharging untreated wastewater into public water sources so far this year.
