Fairview Park Property Management Limited convicted for discharging substandard wastewater into Shan Pui River

     Fairview Park in Yuen Long discharged substandard domestic wastewater into the Shan Pui River. Its property management company responsible for managing the sewage treatment facility, Fairview Park Property Management Limited, was fined $10,000 at Fanling Magistrates' Courts today (August 7) for contravening the Water Pollution Control Ordinance (WPCO).
      
     The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) conducted a blitz inspection at the sewage treatment facility at Fairview Park in Yuen Long in February and found that some brownish and turbid wastewater was being discharged from the facility into the Shan Pui River via a nearby watercourse, which caused water pollution. A wastewater sample taken by EPD staff showed that multiple parameters exceeded the permitted levels specified in the WPCO licence. The level of E. coli, in particular, was 67 times greater than the permitted level. The EPD initiated prosecution against the licensee, Fairview Park Property Management Limited, in accordance with the WPCO after evidence gathering. Timely remedial measures were taken by the property management company, including work to inspect, repair and replace the damaged parts and to resume the normal operation of its sewage treatment facility.
      
     An EPD spokesman explained that substandard domestic wastewater carries a large amount of viruses, bacteria and pathogens. Direct discharge of wastewater into a nearby watercourse will pollute the water and pose threats to public health and environmental hygiene.
      
     The spokesman reminded all WPCO licensees that they should ensure proper operation of their wastewater treatment facilities and strictly adhere to the discharge standards of all pollutants as stipulated in the licence. Otherwise, it constitutes an offence. Offenders are liable to a maximum fine of $200,000 and six months' imprisonment.