SINGAPORE - Construction company Singbuild Pte Ltd dumped harmful industrial waste into drains and was fined $3,000 by the courts.

PUB, the national water agency, then slapped it with another $4,000 fine for dumping the waste, along with debris, into public sewers.

The offences were seriousas the waste was hazardous to public health and the environment, said the National Environment Agency (NEA) in a statement on Wednesday (Dec9).

It added that pollutants in public sewers can also affect the water reclamation process and are dangerous to officers operating and maintaining the sewer system.

In January this year, the NEA and PUB received complaints that a stretch of Whampoa River had turned white. They traced the pollutants to Singbuild and found that it did not store and dispose its waste properly.

Instead, it was dumping the waste - a bonding agent - into a roadside drain beside its worksite at 6 Jalan Ampas. The pollutants discoloured the river and contractors had to spend 15 hours cleaning both the river and drain.

The NEA said that the company should have stored the waste in intermediate bulk containers and engaged an authorised toxic industrial waste collector to get rid of them off-site.

The agency added that Singbuild had also thrown the waste and other construction debris into public sewers.

The two agenciesurged members of the public to call the NEA on 1800-2255-632 or PUB on 1800-2255-782 if they witness similar incidents. They can also help by noting the date, time and location of the incident. Photos and videos are also welcome, the agencies said.