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Summary of article:
It was suspected that there was illegal dumping and siltation next to the Wushantou Reservoir Conservation Area in Tainan. After the excavation, a lot of waste material and pungent odors were found. Environmental groups are concerned about the safety of the water source and demand that the matter be dealt with in accordance with the law and cleaned up as soon as possible.
Environmental groups received reports and used aerial photography to discover that the area around the former cemetery next to the Wushantou Reservoir Conservation Area in Tainan had been illegally dumped with waste and covered overnight by excavators. Yesterday, together with the Southern District Environmental Management Center of the Ministry of Environment and the Tainan City Environmental Protection Bureau, they excavated 6 sites, each about 4 meters deep. Construction waste and decoration waste were found buried in four of them, and a pungent chemical smell of organic volatile compounds was emanating. Samples have been taken for inspection, and nearby monitors have been consulted to determine the source and culprits of the illegal disposal.
The Taiwan Water Resources Conservation Coalition and other environmental groups said that after receiving the report, aerial photography showed that the suspected dumping site had been covered with soil and a large area had been leveled, and diggers had been hidden in the surrounding forests. He suspected that someone was trying to destroy the evidence. The environmental group said the site is about 200 meters away from the Wushantou Reservoir Water Quality and Water Quantity Protection Area. He is concerned that if the buried material contains heavy metals, industrial waste or unknown sludge, it could be washed away by rain and seep into groundwater, threatening people’s livelihoods and agricultural water security.
The Environmental Protection Bureau said that in addition to tracing the source of the waste, the removal operators and the actual abandoners, it will continue to investigate whether land owners and actual managers know about or participate in illegal disposal activities and clarify relevant responsibilities.
Huantuan said that after excavating the overburden, a large amount of plastic woven bags, waste construction materials, various mixed wastes and unidentified deep black soil were found in the lower layer, and there was obviously a strong and pungent chemical smell, indicating that the burial was not simply earthwork left over from construction, but was very likely mixed with hazardous industrial waste.
Since the site is located in an area extremely sensitive to groundwater and reservoir water quality, has a pond beneath it and is only 200 meters from the Wushantou Reservoir, which is the source of drinking water for millions of people in Greater Tainan, it should be investigated as a criminal offense under Article 46 of the Waste Cleanup Act. Prosecutors and police should prevent those involved from colluding with evidence and abandoning work, and actively release complete heavy metal, toxic decomposition and chemical composition test data as soon as possible. In addition, to prevent harmful pollutants dissolved by rain from flowing downstream, the Environmental Protection Agency should order them to be immediately covered with rain-proof and leak-proof canvas, excavated and transported within the time limit, and removed in accordance with law.
Summary FAQ
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After receiving the report, the environmental group conducted aerial photography and found that the waste was suspected to be illegally dumped next to the Wushantou Reservoir Conservation Area. To cover it up, diggers continued digging at the site throughout the night. Following the joint excavation, many buried objects have been discovered and presented for inspection and investigation.
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The six excavation sites are about 4 meters deep, and in four of them mixed construction waste, decoration waste, plastic woven bags, waste construction materials and unknown soil of dark black color can be seen, and have a strong and pungent smell of organic volatile compounds.
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Since the burial site is only about 200 meters away from the Wushantou Reservoir Water Quality and Quantity Protection Zone, it is located in a sensitive area for groundwater, and there is a pond below. If it contains heavy metals or hazardous industrial waste, it may run off with rainwater and seep into groundwater.
