Russian gold miner pollutes Khor River tributary with toxic wastewater

A gold mining company in Russia’s Khabarovsk Territory has polluted a tributary of the Khor River. The incident resulted from improper equipment decontamination, leading to untreated wastewater entering the waterway. Authorities detected the contamination during routine checks in May. The ecological division of the regional state control authority discovered the pollution. Water samples revealed suspended solid levels exceeding 220 milligrams per litre. The affected stretch of the tributary spanned 990 metres.

The company dumped untreated wastewater from precious metal processing directly into the river. Under Russia’s Water Code, businesses must prevent environmental harm when using water resources. Those responsible for such damage are legally required to compensate for it, either voluntarily or through court action.

This is not the first environmental violation in the region. Last week, a logging company in Novostroyka was caught illegally burning sawmill waste in a boiler facility, breaching conservation laws. The mining company has been ordered to pay 4.5 million rubles in damages to the federal budget. The case highlights ongoing enforcement of environmental regulations in Khabarovsk Territory. Authorities continue to monitor water quality and industrial compliance.