Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA) has fined a Laverton North chemical manufacturer more than $7,500 and issued it with a notice for discharging contaminated wash water from its site.
EPA Acting Metropolitan Manager Danny Childs said Chemprod Nominees Pty Ltd (Omega Chemicals) was fined after an EPA investigation traced a white liquid discharge back to the company’s Fitzgerald Road site.
“Once onsite, EPA officers found a significant amount of a white sludge that was draining into a stormwater system. Residue of the contaminated waste was also found in a stormwater outfall that enters Kayes Drain,” Mr Childs said.
“Further samples taken by EPA officers showed significantly different results upstream to those from downstream, which had low pH levels and high turbidity that can be detrimental to aquatic life. The water was also found to be high in salinity, acidic and cloudy.
“Very high rainfall during the spill meant it was quickly diluted so the impact on water quality and the local community was temporary. The only other confirmed environmental impact was to amenity as the drain is visible to the public and the discharge was bright white. There were no other lasting environmental impacts.”
Mr Childs said the actions of the company were clearly unacceptable and had been allowed to continue for several days.
“Site management took no steps to address the issue until instructed to do so by EPA. Our expectation is that duty holders understand their operations and install appropriate management practices to reduce likely environment impacts and meet their environmental obligations without being directed by the EPA,” Mr Childs said.
Mr Childs said the contamination had resulted from washing of materials coated with contaminants.
“EPA was told the white material was mainly aluminium oxide and had been generated in response to an incident in the company’s production process that needed cleaning up,” Mr Childs said.
“EPA has fined Omega Chemicals as the resultant wash waters were allowed to enter the stormwater system and to discharge from the premises into the environment, which is a clear breach of the Environment Protection Act 1970.”
Mr Childs said EPA had also issued Omega Chemicals with a remedial notice that required the company to urgently address its containment infrastructure at the site so that future incidents were minimised and wastewaters captured on the premises could be disposed of legally.
“Since the incident, EPA has thoroughly inspected the site on several occasions and intends to issue a further notice requiring the company to conduct a full assessment of environmental risks associated with operations at the site,” Mr Childs said.
EPA urges members of the public to report suspected pollution to EPA on 1300 372 842 (1300 EPA VIC) or at www.epa.vic.gov.au