A CENTRAL Coast concrete supplier has been slapped with more than $20,000 in fines over alleged failures involved in water pollution.
NSW Environment Protection Authority officers inspected Kincumber's Hymix Australia Pty Ltd in October after community concerns over dirty water coming from the plant.
"During the inspection, EPA officers found evidence of concrete waste water discharging into a stormwater drain on Cochrone Street which leads to Kincumber Creek," the EPA said in a statement on Thursday.
"Officers also noted that a pump in the settling pit was not operating, which would normally send dirty water back to a holding tank for re-use. The discharges had elevated pH levels and total suspended solids, with the potential to cause harm to the local environment."
Hymix was subsequently fined $15,000 for the alleged water pollution, as well as receiving an $8000 penalty for allegedly failing to properly operate control equipment.
The company also received a clean-up direction and a prevention notice prompting Hymix to address "ongoing surface water management issues".
EPA director regulatory operations Adam Gilligan said he expected the penalties would improve the environmental performance of the company.
Mr Gilligan said the watchdog had also taken into account the company' failure in the past to voluntarily take action to reduce environmental harm.
"It is important that companies like Hymix take their environmental management responsibilities seriously so that their activities don't impact the surrounding environment," he said.
"Concrete waste can increase the pH of surrounding waters and has the potential to harm aquatic life and pollute water for those that rely on it.
"Operators must deal with all materials, including waste water, appropriately to help protect the local environment."
