Discharge of polluted effluent to watercourses or groundwater has the potential to catastrophically affect the aquatic environment. The effects can be long lasting, with natural conditions not returning for years if not decades afterwards.
Any site which discharges a trade effluent or runoff, likely to be heavily polluted, to a natural watercourse or groundwater will be subject to consent by the relevant regulatory body.
Requirements in relation to discharge consents vary regionally.
Under the Water (Northern Ireland) Order 1999, the Department of Environment must give permission before any trade or sewage waste is discharged from commercial, industrial or domestic premises into a waterbody or underground strata.
The conditions set out by NIEA ensure that effluents and runoff receive sufficient treatment prior to being discharged from site and residual pollutant loadings can be sufficiently diluted by the receiving waterway without damaging the aquatic environment or breaching national or EU standards.
Surface water / Sewer discharges
In Ireland, on sites where Integrated Pollution Prevention Control (IPPC) is not applicable, the control of water pollution is legislated through the Local Government (Water Pollution) Acts 1977-1990. All discharges of wastewater (effluent) to waterbodies (surface or groundwater systems) or to sewer can only take place if it is licenced.
Groundwater discharges
The authorisation of discharges to groundwater in Ireland is currently regulated and authorised by local authorities and the EPA under the European Communities Environmental Objectives (Groundwater) Regulations, 2010 (S.I. No. 9 of 2010).
The rules for discharging sewage effluent in England and Wales changed under the Environmental Permitting Regulations (England and Wales) 2010, combining the Pollution Prevention and Control (PPC) and Waste Management Licensing (WML) regulations and their scope widened to include water discharge and groundwater activities.
Consent to discharge in Scotland is governed by the Controlled Activities Regulations (CAR). SEPA strongly advise discussion where discharge is considered to be:
We can undertake the CAR licensing process on your behalf. Our expertise in pollution control design and water quality monitoring provides a comprehensive service which will meet regulatory requirements.
We have the in-house capabilities to apply for Discharge Licences for both groundwater and surface water discharges. Our expertise in pollution control design and water quality monitoring will fully safeguard the Client and the receiving water environment.
Undertaking the consent application process includes: