The National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) has arrested the owners of five luxury hotels in Kitui town.
In a statement on July 1, NEMA confirmed the arrest citing that the owners were arrested operating hotels without Effluent Discharge License (EDL) that allows them to release treated wastewater into the environment in line with the Water Quality Regulations.
NEMA also noted that the owners had failed to comply with Improvement Orders issued previously.
The hotels affected include Kitui Premier, Summer Oasis, Kitui Resort, Heritage, and Park Side Villa hotels in Kitui town.
“Proprietors of Kitui Premier, Summer Oasis, Kitui Resort, Heritage, Park Side Villa hotels in Kitui town have been apprehended for operating hotels without Effluent Discharge License (EDL) that allows them to release treated wastewater into the environment in line with the Water Quality Regulations. The owners had failed to comply with Improvement Orders issued previously,” reads part of the statement by NEMA.
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According to NEMA, Jordan Hospital Medical College in Kitui Town was also found pumping Untreated Effluent (raw sewer) onto a public road during the enforcement exercise.
“They had not applied for Effluent Discharge License- which is illegal as stipulated in the Water Quality Regulations, 2006. The principal was arrested to answer to the charges,” NEMA said.
These arrests come after the authority threatened to close Umma University, 12 Kajiado abattoirs for non-compliance.
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NEMA Water Quality Regulations
NEMA’s Water Quality Regulations prohibit discharge of effluent into the environment contrary to the established standards.
The regulations further provide guidelines and standards for the discharge of poisons, toxins, noxious, radioactive waste or other pollutants into the environment in line with the Third Schedule of the regulations.
The regulations have standards for discharge of effluent into the sewer and aquatic environment. While it is the responsibility of the sewerage service providers to regulate discharges into sewer lines based on the given specifications, NEMA regulates discharge of all effluent into the environment.
“No person shall discharge any effluent from sewage treatment works, industry or other point sources into the environment without a valid effluent discharge license issued by NEMA,” reads the regulations.
Additionally, the regulations direct that, “Every person shall refrain from any actions, which directly or indirectly cause water pollution, whether or not the water resource was polluted before the enactment of the Environmental Management and Coordination Act (EMCA), 1999.”
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