Gyeonggi Province Special Investigation Unit Uncovers 8 Illegal Acts Including Unauthorized Wastewater Discharge 530 Times Above Permitted Standards

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Park No-hun] The Gyeonggi Province Special Judicial Police Unit has uncovered illegal acts at wastewater discharge facilities in knowledge industry centers, including unauthorized discharge of wastewater exceeding 530 times the permitted standards.

The Gyeonggi Province Special Judicial Police Unit announced on the 28th that during an intensive crackdown from October 5-22 on wastewater discharge facilities within knowledge industry centers in Seongnam, Bucheon, Anyang, and Gunpo cities, it identified 8 violations.

The violations included 3 cases of operating unlicensed wastewater discharge facilities and discharging specific water-hazardous substances into public waters, and 5 cases of operating unreported wastewater discharge facilities.

Looking at major identified cases, Company 'A' in Gunpo, which manufactures electronic components, discharged wastewater generated during product cutting into public waters. Pollution testing results showed that copper, a specific water-hazardous substance, exceeded the discharge facility permit standard (0.1㎎/ℓ) by 8 times.

Company 'B' in Anyang, which manufactures semiconductor parts, operated an unlicensed wastewater discharge facility using approximately 200 tons of tap water per month.

According to pollution testing results, copper, a specific water-hazardous substance, exceeded the permit standard by approximately 530 times, while antimony exceeded the permit standard (0.02㎎/ℓ) by 6 times.

Additionally, wastewater containing large quantities of heavy metals such as nickel and zinc was also discharged into public waters.

Company 'C', a plastic material manufacturer in Seongnam, operated a chemical laboratory for testing related products at a scale approximately 6 times larger than the reporting standard of 100㎡ without filing a report.

According to the Water Environment Conservation Act, those who install or operate unlicensed wastewater discharge facilities face up to 7 years imprisonment or fines up to 70 million won, while those who install or operate unreported wastewater discharge facilities face up to 5 years imprisonment or fines up to 50 million won, respectively.

Yoon Tae-wan, head of the Gyeonggi Province Civil Affairs Special Judicial Police Unit, said "We plan to refer the identified illegal facilities for prosecution, examining the specific amount of discharged wastewater and pollution levels" and "We will request strong administrative measures including closure orders and suspension of operations against the violating businesses from the relevant cities and counties."