Hunter Water has copped a $15,000 fine after they were found to have leaks and poor maintenance at their Dungog Water Treatment Plant.
The Dungog plant treats water from the Chichester Dam.
The NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) issued the fine after a site inspection in May when officers uncovered several pipes suffering from contamination build up and corrosion. They say some leaks if left unchecked, could potentially flow into the stormwater system.
It's the second time Hunter Water has been found to have poor maintenance practices - the EPA also fined them last year when heavily chlorinated water leaked into a local creek because of a faulty pump at the Dungog site. Hunter Water did plead guilty to the charges.
It was determined that poor maintenance practices had led to that particular incident. In the end, the fines and court costs imposed on the company for the offences totalled more than a quarter of a million dollars.
EPA Director Karen Marler says it was disappointing to see inadequacies in maintenance practices this year, given the previous prosecution taken by the EPA.
 |
| Image nbnnews.com.au |
