The National Water Resources Authority (NWRA) has suspended an effluent discharge permit for Presscane at its Dyeratu facility in Chikwawa District, after uncovering serious violations of the Water Resources Act.
The breaches were uncovered during a joint inspection with the Malawi Environmental Protection Authority (MEPA) and the Central Water Laboratory (CWL) on 20 January 2026 following reports of effluent spillages and as part of routine compliance monitoring under the Water Resources Act of 2013.
Additional observations made after rainfall events on 21 January 2026 revealed what the Authority described as widespread non-compliance with both the Act and the Water Resources Regulations of 2018.
According to findings contained in an enforcement notice signed by NWRA Chief Executive Officer Dwight Kambuku, Presscane was deliberately allowing raw and untreated effluent to overflow into the environment due to overloading of evaporation ponds, in contravention of Sections 88 and 89 of the Act.
The ponds were operating at or beyond capacity with inadequate freeboard, resulting in seepage and spillages that pose a high risk to groundwater and nearby surface water bodies.
Inspectors further established that the company failed to comply with the conditions of its effluent discharge permit, DL/TE/6/2021. Contrary to the permit, Presscane had constructed parallel and secondary unapproved, unlined ponds to contain spillovers from the main evaporation ponds.
The Authority also noted failure by the company to put in place measures to monitor groundwater quality and the surrounding environment for pollution. In addition, construction of an Effluent Treatment Plant reportedly commenced without formal communication to NWRA or submission of the required design documentation for authorisation.
Despite being aware that the existing evaporation ponds were inadequate and prone to spillage and seepage, Presscane failed to implement mitigation or remedial measures, leading to continued pollution of the surrounding environment.
The company was also faulted for failing to report the pollution incident involving hazardous or harmful substances to the relevant authorities, as required under Section 103 of the Water Resources Act.
In response to the violations, NWRA has ordered the immediate suspension of all effluent discharge and directed the company to prevent any overflow, seepage, or release of untreated or partially treated effluent into the environment or water resources.
The Authority has also ordered an immediate halt to any additional effluent inflows into the existing evaporation ponds until adequate containment and treatment capacity is demonstrated and approved.
Presscane has been instructed to undertake, at its own cost, clean-up, rehabilitation, and restoration of all affected environments and water resources. The company has also been given 14 days to submit a detailed corrective action plan with clear timelines, and 21 days to submit a pollution impact and remediation report covering all affected areas.
NWRA has further notified Presscane that it will impose an administrative penalty for non-compliance with the Water Resources Act, with the applicable penalty and payment instructions to be communicated separately. The effluent discharge permit, DL/TE/6/2021, has been suspended in line with Section 101 of the Act.
Kambuku warned that failure to comply with the directives will result in further enforcement action, including prosecution, closure of operations, and other measures provided for under the law. He added that Presscane may make written representations or seek clarification regarding the enforcement action through his office.
