Industrial wastewater generated by ZAK is directed to a multi-stage wastewater treatment system and then discharged into the Odra. The company constantly monitors the parameters of the discharged wastewater either on a continuous basis (total suspended solids, COD – organic content, total nitrogen content, total phosphorus content) or on a periodic basis (pH, chlorides, sulfates, metals, etc.).

Please note that on July 13th 2022 ZAK employees noticed dead fish in the port basin of a branch of the Kędzierzyn Canal. Several dozen dead fish pushed by the water current and the wind were seen in the final section of the Kędzierzyn Canal, which ends at ZAK’s port area. The company’s environmental protection team immediately took measures to secure the site and investigate the incident – they had the port area secured by the State Fire Service of Kędzierzyn-Koźle, a site inspection was conducted, water samples were immediately taken at two locations in the Kędzierzyn Canal and their parameters were tested. In addition, dead fish samples were collected for further analysis.

ZAK staff provided access to the premises and participated in the activities of representatives of the Opole Provincial Environmental Protection Inspectorate delegated to investigate the incident (two site visits on July 13th and July 14th 2022).

No elevated levels of substances that could have been released from ZAK’s operations due to its location were found in the waters of the Kędzierzyn Canal. The test results were delivered to the Opole Provincial Environmental Protection Inspector on July 15th 2022.

The incidental influx of dead fish from an upstream section of the Kędzierzyn Canal, the Gliwice Canal or the Odra River was not caused by ZAK’s operations, the test results showed. 

No new incidents of dead fish flowing into the closed end of the Kędzierzyn Canal have been seen since July 14th.

No substantive grounds exist for linking the environmental disaster on the Odra River sections in the provinces of Wrocław and Zielona Góra to the operations of Zakłady Azotowe Kędzierzyn.

Furthermore, none of the industrial processes carried out at ZAK uses mercury.