WHEN DO I NEED A DISCHARGE LICENCE.
Local Authorities are given powers under the Local Government (Water
Pollution) Act 1977 as amended to control the discharge of effluents to
waters. If the activity causing the discharge does not fall under the remit of
the First Schedule of the Environmental Protection Agency Act 1992 as
amended. An application for a licence must be made to the local Authority in
whose functional area the discharge is to occur.
Effluent discharges for which a discharge licence must be obtained under the
Local Government (Water Pollution) Act 1977 as amended are as follows
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All domestic wastewater discharges to surface waters.
All trade effluents discharges to surface waters,
All discharges of domestic wastewater greater than5 cubic meters in any
period of 24 hours which is discharged to an aquifer (groundwater) from a
septic tank or other disposal unit by means of a percolation area, soakage
pit or other method;
All trade effluent discharges to groundwater;
All trade effluent discharge to sewer.
The following discharges are exempt from having to hold a discharge licence
Under the Local Government (Water Pollution) Act 1977
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Discharges to tidal waters or marine structures;
Discharges from a sewer owned by, vested in or controlled by a Water
Services Authority,
Discharges exempted from licensing under the Regulations made by the
minister in accordance with Section 4 (10) of the Local Government (Water
Pollution) Act 1977,
Trade effluent discharged by a Water Services Authority in the course of
the performance of its powers and duties, other than from sewer .
Domestic sewage not exceeding in volume 5 cubic meters in any period of
24 hours which is discharged to an aquifer from a septic tank or other
disposal unit by means of a percolation area soakage pit or other method,
The discharge of domestic type effluent only to sewer,
The discharge of storm water only to sewer,
Discharge subject to IPPC licensing by the EPA. Such activities are
identified in the first schedule to the Environmental Protection Agency Act
1992-2007
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