Fish kill in Rio Cobre due to defective NWC sewage treatment plant – NEPA
The National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) says a fish kill in the Rio Cobre on Christmas Eve is now contained.
According to NEPA, approximately 50 fish were seen floating on the river on Christmas morning, and it was discovered that the pollution was due to a malfunctioning National Water Commission (NWC) sewage treatment plant at Charlemont in St Catherine.
NEPA says the defective plant caused untreated sewage to be emitted into the Old John’s Gully which flows into the river.
The NWC has since corrected the problem which was due to a power outage at the plant, the environmental agency said.
NEPA added that it will be serving the NWC with an enforcement notice on Wednesday to outline specific terms to which the entity must comply as a result of the incident.
It is the latest pollution of the Rio Cobre in St Catherine.
Earlier this month, there was an oil spill in the river that was emitted from the former Jamaica Beverages plant that is now owned and operated by Trade Winds Citrus Limited.
NEPA also reported that the directors of Trade Winds Citrus Limited have been served with an enforcement notice under the NRCA Act and a summons to appear in court under the Wild Life Protection Act.
