Danish district of Nordhavn. Photo:Shutterstock
The Danes held off discharging thousands of cubic meters of sewage into the Baltic Sea
The World Daily | News Desk | MAY 25th 2020
The protests caused the postponing of the discharge of sewage from the sewage system in Copenhagen into the Baltic Sea. According to the Danish capital's authorities, this is necessary in connection with the construction of a residential investment in the Nordhavn district. Initially, it was assumed that the operation would start on Sunday 24th of May and last five days.
The announced discharge of 290,000 cubic meters of wastewater that could fill 200 swimming pools has caused protests in Denmark and Sweden. Environmentalists say that untreated water will contribute to the blooms of blue-green algae in the Baltic Sea and dirty beaches.
Plans for temporary abandonment of water purification were criticized by the Danish Minister of the Environment Lea Wermelin, but she emphasized that the decision was the responsibility of local authorities. In contrast, Sweden's Minister for the Environment and Climate Isabella Loevin expressed her outrage at the fact that the Swedish authorities had not been informed about the drop.
On Sunday, first, the sewer company Hofor stated that "as a result of an agreement with the Copenhagen authorities, the discharge of the waste was suspended until Monday," then in a subsequent communication the authorities of the Danish capital announced the postponement of this operation until autumn. Local politicians explained that the initial decision was made by lower-level officials.
Initially, it was assumed that the discharge of sewage into the Baltic Sea would take place on Sunday, and would last five days.
Lea Wermelin appealed for the search for possibilities to avoid sewage entering the Baltic Sea.
According to the Copenhagen authorities, the reason for the planned discharge of sewage from the sewage system into the sea, is “the preparatory work for the construction of Nordhavn residential district, which temporarily prevents the use of the area’s crucial sewage system.”
© The World Daily 2020 | News Desk
