Environment ministry officials inspect the water quality of a canal near the Kobon (Cambodia) Biotechnology factory in Preah Sihanouk province on December 18. Environment ministry
The Ministry of Environment has identified two large factories which it believes are discharging untreated wastewater into nearby natural waterways.
The ministry shared the names and locations of the two facilities, one in Kandal province and one in Preah Sihanouk, in a December 19 announcement.
The unlikely named Jin Lu Yaun Energy Environment Protection Co., Ltd factory, in Kandal province’s Kandal Stueng district, was determined to have been the source of pollution in the Krang Trea canal, which had then spread to Stung Prek Tnaot canal in Kampong Speu province.
The discovery followed complaints from local residents in Kandal Stueng about the environmental damage taking place.
The wastewater reportedly turned the water a murky brown and emitted a foul odour, making it unsuitable for agricultural irrigation or daily use. The ministry has required the company to improve its wastewater treatment system and ordered that all discharges be suspended until compliance with technical standards is ensured.
Officials also discovered that the Kobon (Cambodia) Biotechnology Co., Ltd, factory, in Preuy Nob district’s Samaki commune of Preah Sihanouk, was discharging untreated wastewater into the Kampong Smach and Pha’av canals.
The factory, which processes cowhide to produce gelatin, has waste treatment ponds, but the ministry explained that they were inadequately maintained.
The ministry reported that a concealed pipeline, approximately two kilometres long, was found to be draining liquid waste from the factory into the Kampong Smach canal. The authorities instructed the factory to immediately halt the discharge of wastewater and upgrade its treatment facilities to meet technical standards.
Additionally, the factory owners must restore the polluted waterways and areas around the canals.
Recently introduced government regulations on wastewater management outline the penalties which may be handed to individuals who violate the regulations in force.
Article 103 of the relevant legislation states that unauthorised connections from economic zones or industrial parks to wastewater systems may be punished by prison terms of from one month to one year, and fines ranging from 400,000 riel ($100) to four million ($1,000).
The environment ministry has yet to confirm if any penalties or additional measures will be applied against the owners of the two factories. Investigations into the environmental and health impacts on local communities are ongoing.
