Thu, Mar 17, 2005 page4

• Secret pipes pollute river in the south

  HIDDEN DANGER The Environmental Protection Administration has found secret pipes discharging pollutants into the Erjen River from nearby factories

  • By Chiu Yu-Tzu / STAFF REPORTER
  • • 
    • 
    • 

  Thirty-five hidden pipes secretly discharging industrial waste-water into rivers in the Kaohsiung area have been exposed in the last two months by environmental inspectors.

  The Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) said yesterday that it had therefore targeted all companies in the 13 major industrial zones in the south for stricter inspection.

  Last week, a 10km section of the Erjen River dividing Tainan and Kaohsiung counties turned virtually black after industrial waste-water was secretly discharged into it. After desperately searching for the source of the pollutants, local environmental inspectors found 21 hidden pipes connecting factories, run by dishonest companies, with the river.

  The matter embarrassed the EPA, which last month announced that pollution of the Erjen River, which has been listed as one of the 10 most seriously polluted rivers in Taiwan for years, has been significantly mitigated due to efforts made in the last three years. These involved frequent environmental inspections and volunteers' participation in patrols. According to EPA statistics, only 47.2 percent of the river remains seriously polluted.

  Originating in Neimen Township in Kaohsiung County, the 61.2km river has been polluted by a diverse variety of sources, including sewage discharged from upstream pig and duck farms and industrial waste from plants refining and smelting metals.

  Lee Jian-de (李建德), head of the southern division of the EPA's Chief Inspectorate, said yesterday that local environmental inspectors had worked very hard in the last few months to expose hidden pipes discharging chemicals that polluted rivers. Lee said that 13 major industrial zones, located in Tainan, Kaohsiung and Pingtung counties, had been inspected more frequently than before.

  Existing regulations demand the installation of waste-water treatment facilities in industrial zones. However, some firms build hidden pipes to discharge untreated waste-water to lower costs and dodge their social responsibilities.

  "In the last two months, in the Jenta Industrial Zone alone, 35 secret pipes of various sizes have been exposed. This has been beyond our original estimates," Lee told the Taipei Times.

  After environmental inspectors found an unusually polluted section of a river running through the industrial zone near the border dividing Kaohsiung City and Kaoshiung County, they used advanced technologies involving satellite positioning to effectively locate possible pollutants flowing into rivers.

  Among the exposed hidden pipes, 28 were connected to factories in Kaohsiung County and six to firms in Kaohsiung City. The remaining pipe's origin was uncertain but it was sealed to prevent further pollution.

  Lee said that the purposes of these pipes would have to be confirmed and those not for discharging rainwater would be sealed after a certain deadline.

  Lee said that similar environmental inspections would be carried out day and night, rain or shine.

  According to the EPA's latest public opinion poll, air pollution is regarded as the most serious environmental problem in Taiwan. River pollution and inappropriate disposal of household garbage were the next two issues the public was concerned about.

  In Taiwan, agricultural run-off, coastal aquaculture, industrial effluents and domestic sewage are responsible for the pollution of coastal areas, rivers and groundwater.
• Most Popular

  • 1

    Bukele proposes prisoner swap with Maduro

  • 2

    HK, Macau residency rules tightened

  • 3

    Wild’s top line too much for Vegas Golden Knights

  • 4

    China turns on the charm for Taiwan businesses: study

  • 5

    Taipei would welcome return of Honduras as ally if it seeks to recognize Taiwan