Why is a fine of 300,000 yuan still imposed for \"zero discharge\" in wastewater treatment?

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At the site of Shandong Xintai Chia Tai Coking Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as “Chia Tai Coking”), it can be seen that the coking quenching wastewater is sent to the wastewater treatment plant through newly constructed transmission pipelines and pressure pumping stations. After treatment, it is reused in the coking quenching process, achieving zero discharge of production wastewater. 　　Previously, this company was investigated on the spot by the Shandong Provincial Environmental Inspection Corps for illegally removing wastewater pipelines and reusing coking wastewater directly in the coking process. The Environmental Protection Bureau of Xintai City imposed administrative penalties on it, ordering it to immediately correct its environmental violations, reducing production by 50%, and fining it over 300,000 yuan. 　　For achieving \"zero discharge\" of production wastewater as well, what is the difference between reusing the water after treatment and using it directly? What environmental pollutants can arise from reusing coking wastewater without treatment? In-depth interviews were conducted below. 　　The company removed the pipelines without authorization and reused the coking wastewater directly. Zhengda Coking is located in the Xintai Economic Development Zone, covers an area of 370 mu, has a total investment of 320 million yuan, and employs over 700 people. In 2004, the company began construction of a coke production facility with an annual capacity of 600,000 tons, using rammed coke ovens; it went into operation officially at the beginning of 2007 after passing the inspections by environmental protection authorities. 　　It is understood that the main pollutants generated in the coking and quenching section include dust, SO2, CO, NOX, H2S, BP, etc. The coking quenching system of CP Group uses wet dust removal, whereby baffle dust capture devices and spraying washing units are installed at the top of the quenching tower, achieving a dust removal efficiency of over 60%. In 2015, new off-furnace desulfurization facilities were installed to ensure stable and compliant emissions of gaseous pollutants. 　　In terms of wastewater treatment, CPCC has a wastewater treatment plant that uses the A2/O2 process. Wastewater from coke quenching, excess ammonia generated by condensing air, benzene extraction wastewater, as well as domestic wastewater are all sent to this treatment plant. After treatment, they are reused in the coke quenching process, thereby ensuring that no production wastewater is discharged outside the company. 　　On June 6, during an independent investigation conducted by the Shandong Provincial Environmental Inspection Corps, it was found that Chia Tai Coking had removed the pipelines for transporting coking wastewater without authorization during production; as a result, the coking wastewater did not enter the wastewater treatment facilities and was reused directly in the coking process. Some domestic wastewater also failed to make it to the wastewater treatment facilities. In addition, rainwater and sewage are not separated within the plant, the coke ovens are aging, and there are uncontrolled emissions. At the same time, this company stores coal in the open air, with inadequate covering measures and imperfect wind and dust suppression nets. 　　Tests have shown that the COD, ammonia nitrogen, and volatile phenols in the quenching wastewater from CP Group’s coking plant exceed the direct discharge concentration limits for water pollutants specified in Table 2 of the \"Emission Standards for Pollutants in the Coking Chemical Industry\" (GB16171-2012); however, this wastewater is not discharged outside the facility. Neither the unorganized waste gases at the plant boundary nor the gases emitted from the coke oven flues exceeded the corresponding emission concentration limits. 　　Does not discharging wastewater mean there is no environmental pollution issue? 　　It is understood that the coking quenching process represents an important source of pollution for coking manufacturers, with a high level of pollutant emissions. Coke quenching wastewater contains high concentrations of COD, as well as pollutants such as cyanides, ammonia nitrogen, petroleum-based organic compounds, and sulfides. If this wastewater is reused for coke quenching, these various pollutants will be vaporized along with the steam and released into the environment, thereby affecting environmental quality. 　　Regarding the issue of \"removing the pipelines without authorization and reusing coking wastewater directly,\" Xu Bo, the person in charge of production at Zhengda Coking, explained that severe corrosion of the original pipelines and pumps for transporting coking wastewater had caused leaks at the top of the furnace, creating safety hazards. The company removed and repaired those pipelines on May 18; during that time, the coking wastewater was reused directly in the coking process. 　　As of the time of publication, in response to CPCC’s environmental violation of arbitrarily removing pollution control facilities, the Xintai Environmental Protection Bureau has referred the case to the public security authorities for handling. 　　The environmental protection authorities issued fines and ordered the correction of the illegal activities. After investigating the illegal actions carried out by Zhengda Coking, the law enforcement officers from the Shandong Provincial Environmental Inspection Team transferred the case to the Xintai City Environmental Protection Bureau. 　　Wan Huijin, deputy director of the Economic Development Zone Branch of the Xintai Environmental Protection Bureau, told reporters that in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Water Pollution Prevention and Control Law, enterprises, institutions, and individual business owners must file timely declarations and registrations if there are significant changes in the types, quantities, and concentrations of water pollutants they discharge ； Its water pollution control facilities must remain in normal operation ； If water pollution control facilities are to be demolished or left idle, approval must be obtained in advance from the local environmental protection authorities at the county level or above. Those who misuse water pollutant treatment facilities, or remove or leave such facilities idle without approval from the environmental protection authorities, shall be ordered by the environmental protection authorities at or above the county level to make corrections within a specified time limit, and shall be fined an amount ranging from one time to three times the amount of the pollution discharge fees that should have been paid. 　　Changda Coking failed to submit a report to the environmental protection authorities, removed the wastewater transmission pipes without authorization, and reused the coking wastewater that had not been treated by any wastewater treatment facilities directly for coking purposes, thereby violating the relevant regulations mentioned above. 　　In response, the Xintai Environmental Protection Bureau imposed administrative penalties on Zhengda Coking, ordering it to restore the normal operation of its coking wastewater treatment facilities (conveyance pipelines) by June 22, and issued a fine of 300,132 yuan in accordance with the law. 　　Regarding the environmental violations committed by Zhengda Coking Coal Yard, such as the lack of sealing measures, the absence of barriers high enough to match the height of the piled materials, and insufficient covering measures, the Xintai Environmental Protection Bureau ordered it to construct barriers around the coal yard and implement necessary covering measures within two months, and imposed a fine of 100,000 yuan. 　　Recently, at the CP Group coking plant, it was observed that the newly installed pipelines for transporting coking wastewater have been put into regular use. After being treated by wastewater treatment facilities, this water is continuously sent to the coking process for reuse. 　　At present, wind and dust suppression nets are being installed around the company’s coal storage area. The renovation of the plant’s rainwater and sewage separation system has been completed and put into use; all domestic wastewater is now directed to the sewage treatment system, and the coke ovens have been repaired. However, the reporter still detected a distinct chemical odor at various locations within the plant, including the coke oven workshop and the wastewater treatment station.