Discharge Licences
If you release an effluent to waters (such as groundwaters, rivers or lakes) or a sewer, you are required to have the appropriate discharge licence in place. Discharge licences ensure that discharge is treated and controlled in a manner that protects the receiving environment.
A discharge licence is required for the discharge of domestic sewage from a septic tank to surface waters, or, to groundwater when the volume of the discharge exceeds 5m3 per day.
A discharge licence is required for the discharge of trade effluent to waters or to a sewer. Trade effluent is any liquid waste that is discharged from a business premises to the public sewers or waters. It does not include domestic wastewater from appliances, such as toilets and wash hand basins, or stormwater. Trade effluent discharges vary in their nature, composition and volume depending on the business activity.
Discharge to Waters – Section 4 Licenses
Local authorities issue licences in their functional area to discharge trade effluent or sewage effluent to any waters under Section 4 of the Local Government (Water Pollution) Act 1977, as amended in 1990. Discharge licences set conditions to ensure the discharge is treated and controlled in a manner that protects the receiving environment.
A discharge to waters licence sets out general requirements in terms of the volume and quality of effluent that can be discharged to waters. A discharge licence will also specify other miscellaneous requirements, such as the submission of ongoing monitoring results to the Water Quality Section of SDCC.
The discharge of trade effluent to waters without a licence or failure to comply with the terms and conditions of a Discharge Licence is an offence under the Local Government (Water Pollution) Act 1977, as amended.
How to Apply for a Section 4 Discharge Licence
To apply for a Section 4 licence to discharge to waters, please find the application form linked below and follow the directions laid out on same.
Applications will not be reviewed until a public notice of intention to a apply for a licence is given in a newspaper circulating in the area in which the discharge is made and the application fee has been paid.
Section 16 Licences – Discharge to Sewer
Discharge licences in respect of the discharge of trade effluent to sewer are issued by Uisce Éireann under Section 16 of the Local Government (Water Pollution) Act 1977, as amended. Further information and Section 16 discharge licence application forms are available from Uisce Éireann: www.water.ie/tradeeffluent.
