The Department of Environmental Protection of the Taoyuan City Government (TYDEP) received a complaint from a citizen today about the discharge of red effluent into the Dongmen River close to the jurisdictional boundary of Taoyuan City and Yingge District of New Taipei City, and immediately dispatched inspectors to the scene to investigate the situation, and immediately activated the New Taipei-Taoyuan Environmental Protection Joint Investigation Platform. The joint task force determined that Tran Soon Enterprise Co., Ltd., located in the upstream of the river, had not properly treated effluent water before discharging into ditches at the rear of the factory, thus polluting the region's water bodies. The TYDEP immediately ordered the company to suspend the discharge of effluent and charged it with violation of Article 14 of the Water Pollution Control Act, imposing a fine of not less than NT$60,000 and not more than NT$6 million. In addition, water samples were collected for further analysis. If acceptable effluent discharge standards are exceeded, a fine of more than NT$60,000 and less than NT$20 million will be imposed.
According to the TYDEP, after receiving reports from the public, it dispatched inspectors to the site of the complaint (Dazhi Road, Taoyuan District and Dongmen River along Fengfu 1st Street, Yingge District) and found that the water was visually dark red in color. Water from Fengming Park was then collected for on-site testing. The inspectors also activated the New Taipei-Taoyuan Joint Investigation Mechanism. The inspectors followed the waterway to Tran Soon Enterprise Co., Ltd. in Bade District and discovered that the company was discharging red effluent from the discharge pipeline. Tran Soon Enterprise Co., Ltd. is a textile dyeing and finishing company and holds a water pollution prevention permit issued by the Taoyuan government. The TYDEP immediately collected water samples from the premises for further analysis. If the effluent is deemed to exceed standards, a fine of not less than NT$60,000 and not more than NT$20 million shall be imposed on the company.
The TYDEP also pointed out that the inspectors also checked the wastewater treatment operation procedures of the company and found that the operator did not add chemicals to the adjustment pond during the wastewater treatment, resulting in poor treatment efficiency and pollution of the surrounding water body. The company's wastewater treatment operation was not carried out in accordance with the permitted regulations. The company was therefore cited for violation of Article 14 of the Water Pollution Control Act and fined not more than NT$6,000,000 and not more than NT$60,000, and immediately ordered to suspend discharging of effluent, with the water to be temporarily stored at the adjustment pond.
The TYDEP further noted that Dongmen River is the upstream and downstream water bodies of Taoyuan City and New Taipei City, and once any pollution is found, the two cities shall activate a joint investigation mechanism. The joint investigation demonstrated that it can quickly perform its function and smoothly find the source of pollution to stop unscrupulous operators from polluting the environment, contributing to the discovery and prevention of pollution incidents. The TYDEP also calls on operators not to take chances. If members of the public discovers suspected cases of pollution, they can call the Public Hazard Incident Reporting Hotline at 0800-066666 and 03-3354943, and inspectors will be immediately dispatched to inspect the pollution site and stop the pollution from continuing.