DUBAI: Dubai is to impose severe penalties on companies dumping raw sewage illegally. The civic authorities yesterday issued a circular to all companies providing sewage pumping services, as well as owners and drivers of sewage tankers, warning them of the punitive consequences which include a fine that could exceed AED100,000.
Salem bin Mesmar, assistant director general of Dubai Municipality for Health, Safety & Environment Control Sector, said the municipality will take drastic action against any practices that violate environment safety rules and regulations in Dubai.
He noted that any discharge of raw sewage in storm water lines would result in a fine of AED100,000 or above depending on estimates of damages resulting from the dumping. As well as the fines, tankers would be confiscated for a period of one to three months, and the trade licenses of transporting companies (owner of license) would be suspended until further notice.
Illegal dumping of sewage in any other area would result in the imposition of huge fines on the tanker’s owner in addition to severe legal actions including suspension of the license.
He also said modifications to sewage tankers’ general structure (such as modification of the discharge outlet) would lead to the confiscation of the tanker and the trade license.
Illegal dumping of sewage has resulted in the pollution of part of the emirate’s coastline. Municipality inspectors are now keeping a close watch on the tanker drivers who empty the tankers usually between 12 midnight and 5 a.m. daily in order to avoid detection.
The tankers are mandated to discharge their load at the Al-Aweer Sewage Treatment Plant, but some of the drivers prefer to empty their tankers in open areas or through storm water lines in Al-Qouz, Al-Barsha and Nad Al-Sheba.
According to local reports, the municipality last month apprehended about 27 tankers for illegally dumping raw sewage and fined each of them AED50,000. The amount included the fine and the cost of cleaning and flushing out the storm water lines.
Recently, the municipality had to close a section of the Jumeirah beach because raw sewage, dumped into the sea by irresponsible drivers, was polluting the coastal waters. This disgraceful situation was, according to the municipality, caused by a just few lorry drivers breaking the law.
