Murmanskvodokanal accused a resident of "disseminating false information" about a sewage spill into the Kola River. The prosecutor's office confirmed the spill.
A representative of the Murmansk water utility accused a Murmansk region resident of "spreading false information" after she posted a video of a sewage spill into the Kola River. Screenshot of the message опубликовала Activist Violetta Grudina. However, a departmental investigation soon completely refuted the utility workers' claims.
Conflict over the video recording and the position of the water utility
The Murmansk Water Utility twice warned the city resident in a message about liability for providing false information and insults directed at the company and its employees.
Following this warning, the woman deleted the video, and the message from the Murmanskvodokanal press secretary was also deleted.
Results of the inspection by the environmental prosecutor's office
However, three days later the environmental prosecutor's office опубликовала Results of the inspection of the sewer network in the water protection zone of the Kola River.
The main conclusion: "the wastewater treatment facility is being operated without implementing mandatory measures to preserve biological resources," which has already led to siltation of the riverbed and flooding of green spaces. The facility lacks environmental monitoring. Furthermore, the pipeline was laid open-pit, "creating the risk of pipe damage and the discharge of untreated wastewater into the river."
Based on the results of this inspection, an administrative case was opened under Article 8.33 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation (violation of rules for the protection of habitats, migration routes of animals, and aquatic bioresources).
Previously, the prosecutor's office held the company liable for constructing a facility without the approval of the authorized body of the Federal Agency for Fisheries.
The scale of the problem in the region and similar cases
Violetta Grudina also опубликовала Video evidence of Murmanskvodokanal dumping sewage directly into the Tuloma River for several weeks. "It is from the Kola and Tuloma rivers that water flows for Murmansk, Kola, and nearby villages," the activist wrote.
Similar situations are occurring in other regions. This week, for example, Taganrog authorities, following reports from residents and the publication of satellite images, denied The presence of an oil spill in Taganrog Bay was reported, claiming that an inspection had revealed no contamination. However, just two days later, the city administration itself established a cleanup team and organized a coastal cleanup effort involving municipal services and volunteers.
