China's State Environmental Protection Administration (SEPA) has
warned that any discharge of waste water containing highly toxic
chemicals into drinking water sources will face heavy fines of up
to 500,000 yuan.
The latest draft government regulation that was issued Thursday
by SEPA, China's top environmental watchdog, on its official
website is now open for public opinions before the end of this
month.
The regulation stipulates that violations that involve direct
discharge of toxic liquids into drinking water sources, dumping or
burying underground near drinking water sources soluble poisonous
chemical residues including mercury, cadmium, arsenic, chromium,
cyanide and yellow phosphorus, and leakage of the toxic materials
through wells, pits, crevices or caves, will face severe fines. The
minimum fine will be no less than 50 thousand yuan.
The regulation also forbids the dumping of industrial residues,
urban garbage and other wastes into water at drinking water
sources.
The draft regulation vests those who suffer from damages or
losses the legitimate rights to demand polluters eliminate the
dangers and compensate for the losses. It says the government
encourages the establishment of an ecological compensation
mechanism at drinking water sources. The details for the
compensation system will soon be worked out by several government
ministries.
Meanwhile, concentrated drinking water sources will be labeled
as first and second class protection areas, where definite
boundaries must be marked with noticeable warning signs.
The regulation, according to an official from the environment
supervision department of SEPA, will have to coordintate with the
upcoming compensation system, which will help make the regualtion a
unified one.
(Xinhua News Agency November 23, 2007)