A LOCAL hardware product manufacturer is facing a fine of at least 200,000 yuan (US$32,258) for illegally discharging wastewater containing excessive phosphors.

    The phosphorus content in the wastewater exceeded the legal limit by almost 2,000 times, according to a report by yesterday’s Shenzhen Evening News.

    After receiving an anonymous phone tip, the city’s environmental protection administration sent more than 10 law enforcement officers to investigate. Shenzhen Hengjin Hardware Produce Co. was caught red-handed discharging untreated wastewater in Luotian Community in Bao’an District on the early morning of Jan. 27.

    The company was dumping the wastewater containing excessive phosphors through a plastic pipe connected to the city’s sewage network.

    The company has been ordered to stop discharging untreated wastewater, the paper said.

    Its fine will be calculated on a daily basis if it doesn’t stop the illegal discharge within 30 days after it was caught. Each day will cost it an additional 200,000 yuan.

    The company will be the first polluter to be fined in Shenzhen this year after the country’s newest environmental protection laws took effect Jan. 1.

    In addition, the person who tipped off the environmental protection administration on the company’s illegal discharge could be awarded up to 100,000 yuan, according to the city’s new rules on awarding people who report industrial enterprises’ pollution activities, which also took effect Jan. 1.

    The administration will check the person’s identity and give the award, the paper said.

    “Cracking down on environmental polluters needs the public’s involvement,” said the administration’s chief, Liu Chuhan.

    Liu said the administration would implement the newest environmental laws in a strict manner this year. (Martin Li)