The foul smell from a rubber latex processing plant has made life miserable for local inhabitants in Binh Phuoc Province, southern Vietnam, prompting them to seek intervention from authorities.

The provincial Department of Natural Resources and Environment on Friday announced the results of the analysis of wastewater samples taken from the plant, operated by Phuong Hau Company based in Loc Phu Commune, Loc Ninh District.

The results showed that three out of six wastewater quality indicators had exceeded normal levels, including the biochemical oxygen demand, nitrogen, and ammonia.

The department’s inspectorate is working to impose sanctions on the plant operator as per the prevailing regulations, said the official.

Earlier, many local residents complained that the stench from the plant traveled a dozen kilometers and made the neighborhood increasingly stuffy.

The bad smell has existed for a long time, which can put people of vulnerable groups at risk of catching diseases, a local man named L.R. told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper.

Besides the foul smell, the sewage discharged from the plant seemed to be contaminated, which turned black and had an awful smell, the man continued.

According to L.S., another local man, local people had demanded immediate actions from authorities against the issue several times.

“We hope the plant will seek solutions to tackle the bad smell and treat the sewage before discharging it to the environment so as not to disrupt daily activities of the locals,” S. said.

A bird’s eye view of an area where sewage from the plant is treated. Photo: A Loc / Tuoi Tre

Tran Van Tien, vice-chairman of the Loc Phu administration, the rubber latex plant was put into operation in 2009.

The plant operator had been booked twice for allegedly violating land use and environment-related regulations, Tien said.

On October 3 this year, the said department’s inspectorate and the Loc Phu administration inspected the plant.

At that time, the plant’s sewage treatment system was confirmed to operate normally.

The plant operator also took measures to reduce the bad odor emanating from the plant, but the measures had yet to be completely effective, according to the inspectorate.

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