Nakdonggang, Two Companies Illegally Discharging Carcinogen Dioxane Detected

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kang Sharon] The Nakdong River Basin Environmental Office announced on the 2nd that it conducted a special inspection on discharge businesses within the Yangsan sewage treatment area to identify the cause of 1,4-dioxane detected in early May at the Mulgeum water intake station and others, and on May 27, it identified high-concentration wastewater discharge companies and immediately stopped their wastewater discharge.

From May 22 to 27, the office prioritized a special inspection targeting 27 suspicious companies discharging wastewater into the Yangsan sewage treatment plant, in cooperation with related organizations such as Gyeongnam Province and Yangsan City, and found that two companies illegally discharged 1,4-dioxane.

The office and Yangsan City plan to take strict measures against the two companies detected this time in accordance with the regulations related to the Water Environment Conservation Act.

Regarding Company A's operation without a discharge permit for 1,4-dioxane, the office will conduct a direct investigation and refer the case to the prosecution, and for Company B's failure to report the 1,4-dioxane discharge to administrative authorities, a warning and fine will be imposed, with penalties including imprisonment of up to seven years or a fine of up to 70 million KRW.

The office and the city requested Company A to suspend operations immediately upon confirmation of 1,4-dioxane, and no further wastewater has been discharged to date.

The office plans to strengthen management of wastewater discharge businesses and sewage discharge water in the Yangsancheon watershed together with the city to prevent the Mulgeum and Yangsan new town water intake stations downstream of the Nakdong River from being affected by Yangsancheon.

Lee Hojung, head of the Nakdong River Office, said, "Taking this detection of 1,4-dioxane as an opportunity, we will strive for safe and clean water source management by promoting continuous monitoring and recurrence prevention measures through close consultation among related organizations."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.