The government agency "Polish Waters" (Wody Polskie) has published the first results of its investigation into the catastrophic pollution of the Odra river.
The agency has discovered 17 048 cases of sewage equipment delivering sewage to Polish rivers without current permits, including 5816 cases in the tributaries of the Odra. In these 5816 cases it is not known who the owner of the equipment is or the paperwork is not current.
Out of these 5816 cases, in 3500 circumstances the sewage exit itself to the Odra tributary has been granted a permit.
The agency further explains that "illegal outlets into rivers are out of all control" because the legal consequences are slight: the requirement to remove the outlet and pay a fine of 5 times the variable charge for sewage disposal.
The investigation continues.
Sources: Polish Waters (Wody Polskie), PAP
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