KUWAIT: A photo showing sewage pollution found at the Shaab beach. — Photo courtesy of Al-Qabas

KUWAIT: It seems that the new environment protection law managed to stop a large number of environmental violations but failed so far to stop seawater pollution created by sewage water pumped by Ministry of Public Works (MPW) rain drainage manholes into Kuwait Bay and on various coasts, said unnamed Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sources quoted by Al-Qabas.

The EPA has already referred Ministry of Public Works violations in this regard to the public prosecution. The sources added that MPW has so far failed to solve the problem of draining sewage water into the sea, which was recently detected washed ashore at Shaab coast along the Sea Front number 2

Kuwait law forbids the dumping of sewage water and industrial wastes into the sea. “The EPA has already filed a huge number of violations committed by MPW at seven different marine sites,” the EPA source explained, noting that during a meeting held by representatives from both sides, it was suggested to close the rain drainage outlets into the sea after the rainy season.

Article 35 of the environment law bans disposing of liquid sewage and industrial wastes through rain drainage systems. “The article also mandates relevant authorities to build special plants for these areas within a maximum of seven years as of the issue of the law,” added the source noting that violating this article was subject to a penalty of one to three years in prison and/or a KD 10,000-KD 50,000 fine