A complaint questioning whether a coating company is authorised to discharge industrial effluent has prompted clarification from the metro, while the company’s owner has firmly denied that any chemical wastewater is currently generated or discharged from its premises.

Questions were raised by environmental activists about whether Ultimate Powder Coaters holds an approved industrial effluent discharge permit for its premises at Koedoespoort, as required by municipal wastewater by-laws.

Responding to the query, metro spokesperson Lindela Mashigo said: “The company does not appear on the city’s database. This means that no effluent discharge permit was issued by the City of Tshwane.”

Mashigo explained that the absence of a permit on the database merely indicates that the metro has not issued authorisation for industrial effluent discharge from the premises.

However, he noted that this does not automatically imply unlawful discharge, as some operations may not generate effluent requiring such a permit.

He confirmed that an inspection was conducted at the premises in February 2024.

At the time of the inspection, the facility was generating industrial effluent, but representatives of the business indicated that they would be transitioning to a dry process in the coming months.

According to Mashigo, no visible stormwater contamination or water pollution was observed during the inspection.

He added that there is an effluent pre-treatment system in place at the facility and that the overall condition of the site was satisfactory.

“The current activities include sand blasting, which is a dry process. Therefore, there is no need for continuous monitoring,” Mashigo said.

Municipal officials further indicated that no inspections, audits or sampling in the past three years revealed environmental concerns at the site.

The metro said that based on its findings during the February 2024 visit, there were no signs of unlawful discharge into the stormwater system or surrounding environment.

In explaining the broader regulatory context, Mashigo outlined the types of substances typically associated with powder-coating wastewater and why municipal oversight is necessary.

“The primary environmental concern typically relates to pre-treatment and rinse water effluent. This effluent may contain heavy metals, phosphates, fluorides, acids, alkalis, oils, elevated chemical oxygen demand (COD) from detergents used, and, in some cases, paint residues,” he said.

Mashigo added that pre-treatment is recommended before such effluent is discharged into the sewer system.

“No waste or used water may be discharged directly into the stormwater system or the environment. Such discharge constitutes a serious offence and a contravention of the city’s by-laws,” he said.

Mashigo outlined the enforcement measures available should a company be found to be discharging industrial effluent without approval.

“Any person who discharges industrial effluent without prior written permission is guilty of an offence which can include criminal penalties and or fines,” she said.

If convicted, courts can impose criminal penalties, including fines, on offenders. Under the Municipal Stormwater By-laws, offenders can face fines start from R1 000 per inspection, with additional daily fines for ongoing contraventions.

The municipality is also authorised to serve compliance notices requiring a contravener to stop harmful discharge and remedy any contravention within a specified timeframe. Should the contravener fail to comply, the metro may carry out the remedial work itself and recover those costs from the business concerned.

Christopher Simpson, owner of Ultimate Powder Coaters, said it does not currently generate or discharge chemical wastewater at its premises situated at Koedoespoort.

He added that the company has been operating from premises situated within a correctly zoned industrial area and has previously been inspected by municipal officials.

“Inspectors from the metro have in the past visited and inspected our premises and operations, and we have at all times co-operated fully with such inspections whenever requested. No negative reports have ever been received from such inspections,” Simpson said.

He explained the business takes its environmental responsibilities seriously.

“We are committed to complying with all applicable municipal and environmental regulations. Any concerns raised are treated professionally, and our business remains focused on operating responsibly, safely, and in accordance with all relevant by-laws. There is therefore no reason for such concerns,” he said.

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