The National Water Resource Authority (NWRA) has slapped Mount Meru Millers with K4 million for discharging untreated wastewater or effluent into public water or environment.
According to a statement signed by NWRA Public Relations Officer, Masozi Kasambara, the company contravened Section 88(1) of the Water Resources Act (2013) by allowing untreated wastewater to discharge from the factory to the environment.
“The fine comes in a wake of an inspection which the Authority (NWRA) conducted at Mount Meru Millers, on 8 March 2023. The Inspection was prompted by the repugnant pictures circulating on social media depicting discharge of untreated liquid waste from its processing factory.
“The inspection exercise established that there is planned discharge of trade effluent into the environment thereby causing water pollution contrary to section 88 (1) of the Water Resources Act.
“Mount Meru Millers does not have any effluent discharge permit under the National Water Resources Authority contrary to section 92 of the Water Resources Act,” reads part of the statement
He said the company has been ordered to pay the sum of MK2,000,000.00 (two Million Kwacha only) as fine as stipulated in the Water Resources Act (2013) for discharging untreated wastewater into the environment contrary to section 88 read together with section148(1c).
“They also need to pay the sum of the sum of MK2,000,000.00 (two Million Kwacha only) for the unauthorised discharge of effluent into the environment contrary to section 92. Fines captured in (a) and (b) summing up to MK4, 000,000.00 should be made payable to the National Water Resources Authority by 22nd March, 2023,” the statement reads in part
He further said the company has further been ordered to stop, forthwith the indiscriminate discharge of untreated wastewater from the processing factories and to, in the meantime, make temporary arrangements with the Lilongwe City Council or identify a service provider who should be collecting both solid and liquid wastes for proper disposal of the same in designated sites until such a time when Mount Meru Millers constructs its own holding ponds within its premises.
Kasambara said the process will be consequently monitored by NWRA.
“We have also directed them to put in place any other effective remedial measures for the management of wastewater/effluent at all its wastewater treatment facilities which would be regularly monitored by the NWRA to ensure compliance with the Malawi Effluent Standards and other standards at all times.
“To construct wastewater treatment facility and apply for effluent/wastewater discharge permit which would be regularly monitored by the NWRA to ensure compliance with the Malawi Effluent Standards and other standards at all times,” he said
