Industries must adhere to special requirements for effluent discharge by having adequate facilities for effluent management such as effluent plants, tanks, catch-pits and separators.
This was the message shared to the business sector present at the City Meets Business engagement held on Friday at Victoria Hall in Germiston.
“Wastewater is a major cause of pollution. Thus, treatment is a very important process because without water treatment plants we would not have the capacity to get clean water for households and industries that are dependent on water for their business,” said Senzi Sibeko, MMC for Water, Sanitation and Energy, during the keynote address.
Industry leaders were advised to look into pretreatment plans before discarding their effluent water to avoid penalties.
This can be done by obtaining a permit granting industries permission to discharge industrial effluent.
The MMC further stated that the City Meets Business engagement is one of the city’s platforms to create access for the business sector to create a partnership that seeks to address challenges faced by effluent treatment industries.
Thus, industries are encouraged to contact the city’s officials who conduct inspections of premises and effluent treatment processes.
Doing so will assist companies to avoid penalties and will be guided on how to comply with the city’s by-laws.
Companies whose permits have expired or need to apply for new permits can call the water quality managers:
For customers in Nigel, Springs, Benoni, Brakpan, Kempton Park and Olifantsfontein: Annamarie Maurizi on 011 999 8736 or Annamarie.maurizi@ekurhuleni.gov.za
