New Territories West landfill suspected of leaking leachate; Environmental Protection Department says no significant impact on ecology

The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) spokesperson said that the suspected leachate leak from the West New Territories Landfill has been detected, and that most of the leachate from any leak has already been intercepted by the turbidity curtains regularly installed at the stormwater outlets. As a result, the amount of leachate seeping into the large water pond is limited.

At around 2:30 pm today, the EPD discovered at one of the stormwater outlets of the West New Territories Landfill a suspected leachate leak, with the stormwater outlet connected to the large water pond next to the landfill. Based on the current assessment, most of the leaked leachate has been intercepted by the turbidity curtains regularly installed at the stormwater outlet, so the amount of leachate seeping into the large water pond is limited.

The EPD has collected water samples at the affected site for testing. The preliminary investigation found that the dissolved oxygen and pH levels in the water samples are normal, and there is no sign that the water quality and ecology of the large water pond and Deep Bay have been significantly affected. The EPD will also work with the landfill contractor to investigate the cause of the incident and take further source-interception measures.

In addition, the contractor of the West New Territories Landfill has taken a series of follow-up measures, including arranging trucks to remove the leaked leachate from the stormwater outlet and the large water pond; diverting the water upstream of the stormwater outlet to block the water source flowing into the outlet; and arranging additional measures, including placing sandbags and installing additional turbidity curtains, to further intercept the suspected leachate leaking out.