KINGSTON, Jamaica – The National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) is seeking to remind the public that under the Wild Life Protection Act the release of any trade effluent, industrial waste, or any noxious or polluting matter into any stream or river containing fish constitutes a criminal offence.

In addition, under the Natural Resources Conservation Authority (NRCA) Wastewater and Sludge Regulation, it is illegal to discharge wastewater without a licence, NEPA said in a release today.

According to NEPA, a tributary of the Rio Cobre in the vicinity of Byndloss, St Catherine was recently polluted by caustic material from West Indies Alumina Company’s (WINDALCO) plant on Saturday, July 28. The incident occurred as a result of an overflow of contaminated storm water from the facility, NEPA said.

NEPA Senior Manager, Environmental Management, Richard Nelson, indicated that the Agency’s investigation has revealed that the tributary was indeed polluted by caustic material that originated from WINDALCO.

Nelson explained that WINDALCO failed to report the incident to NEPA.

“The containment ponds, known as the “east” and “west’ pools, which were designed to collect and return storm water to the plant during periods of rainfall, failed to contain the contaminated water. This resulted in an overflow from the containment pools, which entered two natural gullies that lead to the tributary of the Rio Cobre in Byndloss, Nelson said.

“WINDALCO has since admitted that caustic material overflowed into the tributary of the Rio Cobre. Water quality test conducted by WINDALCO on Sunday July 29, confirm that caustic material entered into the water ways. To address the issue, the company implemented measures to assist in removal of the contaminant and return the water quality to normality,” he added.