BADUNG, Bali – Authorities in Bali have sealed a wastewater discharge pipe linked to Finns Beach Club after inspectors found treated wastewater flowing into a drainage channel leading toward Berawa Beach, prompting authorities to seal the pipe, issue a formal warning and begin administrative enforcement proceedings.

The discovery followed complaints from residents about a foul smell near Berawa Beach in Tibubeneng Village, North Kuta. Responding to reports submitted through the Badung Regent’s public complaint channel and social media, the Badung Environmental and Sanitation Agency (DLHK) deployed its Environmental Law Enforcement (Gakkum) team to investigate the area on Saturday.

Working alongside Tibubeneng village officials, local community leaders and North Kuta Police, inspectors traced several pipes inside a roadside drainage system along Jalan Pantai Berawa. According to the agency, one of the pipes was confirmed to originate from Finns Beach Club’s wastewater treatment facility.

Authorities said the club’s management acknowledged that the water flowing into the drainage system came from its on-site wastewater treatment plant (IPAL).

However, DLHK said the disposal method did not comply with the environmental permits held by the business.

According to officials, Finns Beach Club possesses an Environmental Impact Assessment (AMDAL) and a technical wastewater permit (Pertek PBMAL), which require treated wastewater to be reused for irrigation and directed into recharge wells rather than discharged into public drainage channels.

As an immediate measure, authorities permanently sealed the wastewater discharge pipe with cement to prevent any further flow into the drainage system. The Badung Environmental and Sanitation Agency also issued a formal written warning, giving Finns Beach Club 14 days to address the violation while officials continue monitoring the site. If the business fails to comply, authorities may escalate administrative sanctions ranging from government enforcement measures to the suspension or eventual revocation of its operating permits, according to Detik Bali.

Separately, Finns Beach Club representative Krisna said the management was still gathering information regarding the inspection.

“I don’t have the full details yet because I wasn’t at the site during yesterday’s inspection. I’ll discuss it with the team that was on the ground,” he said.

Authorities have not said whether the treated wastewater exceeded environmental quality standards. The current enforcement action centres on the discharge route, which officials say was inconsistent with the conditions set out in the site’s environmental permits.