Permit and Exemption to Discharge

The Bio-Pure is a small packaged sewage treatment plant, which can discharge directly to surface water (and groundwater) as it is treated.  As the owner of the Bio-Pure, it is your responsibility to check whether you need to obtain a permit to discharge (consent to discharge), or whether you are exempt.  It is illegal to discharge sewage effluent without a registration (of exemption) or permit.  Failure to register or obtain a permit may result in enforcement action by the Environment Agency.

The rules for discharging sewage effluent in England and Wales have recently changed (6^th April 2010) under The Environmental Permitting Regulations 2008.  You will now need to apply for a permit to discharge from your sewage treatment plant.  However, there are circumstances where a permit is not necessary and an exemption may be obtained instead. 


Circumstances for obtaining an exemption

You may be eligible for exemption, rather than a permit, where sewage effluent is discharged either:

1) to surface water (i.e. a river, stream, estuary or the sea) and the volume is 5m3 a day or less

or

2) to groundwater via a drainage field or filtration system and the volume is 2m3 a day or less

and you meet certain criteria. This will include:

   *You must have necessary planning permission and approval for building regulations.

   *You must not discharge trade effluent. The effluent must be domestic in nature and not cause pollution.

   *You must not reasonably be able to connect to a public foul sewer.  You can not register if you are within 30 metres.

        *You must not be in close proximity to a sensitive site, which includes; conservation areas, bathing waters and groundwater source protection zones (The criteria is different for discharges to groundwater and surface water).
Click here to see groundwater protection zones (click on groundwater).

    *You must install and operate the system properly.  You will also need to properly maintain your sewage treatment system and keep records for 5 years.

    *When discharging to surface water, the water body must have water in it throughout the year.

If you cannot meet any of the above criteria, you must speak to the Environment Agency, as you will need to apply for a permit.

Registering your exemption

Registration is done through the Environment Agency and is free.  The occupier of the land must notify the Environment Agency of the exempt small sewage effluent discharge.  Some information will be required for the exemption.  This will include:

*The occupiers name and address (including post code)

*Location of the discharge

*A description of the small sewage effluent discharge

*Agreement to comply with and abide by the conditions of registration

*A 6 digit National Grid Reference of the discharge point

If you are discharging 5m3 a day or less from a sewage treatment plant to surface water, you will need register for an exemption, before making a discharge.  If you have already made a discharge, you need to register as soon as possible.

If you are already discharging or intending to discharge 2m3 a day or less from a sewage treatment plant to groundwater, you will need to register your discharge by 1^st January 2012.