Water UK

Revised guidelines for trade effluent control and charging

02/01/08

Water and sewerage companies, on behalf of society, regulate manufacturing and process industries whose operations produce effluent that must be treated before returning to the environment. The companies do this through a system of trade effluent consents.

Trade effluents consents are needed to prevent the discharge of trade effluent to sewers from causing:

 •  Damage or harm to the sewerage system and the people who operate the service
 •  Interference with the effective and economic treatment of mixed sewage by the processes used at sewage treatment works
 •  Unacceptable effects on water resources or the broader environment from the effluents or residues of sewage treatment
 •  Unacceptable storm sewage discharges to watercourses.

Steve Ntifo, Science and Environment Adviser, said:

"Trade effluent consents are among the UK's most important environment protection measures. The revised guidelines provide a clearer process and will make it easier for businesses and sewerage companies to ensure compliance with legislation.

"The guidelines also carry a strong environmental message about the composition of products and overall impact on the environment. They should give businesses an extra incentive to improve their operations and bottom line by cutting out substances that need additional treatment or attract higher discharge consent charges."

The guidelines include the following documents which can be obtained using the links provided:

1) Guidelines for control and charging (replaces the 1986 version)
2) General procedure for issuing Consents to the Discharge of Trade Effluent
3) Substance List (Appendix A)
4) Specimen application form (Appendix B)
5)Specimen consent document (Appendix C)
6) Supplementary note (Appendix D)

Ends

For more information please contact:

Steve Ntifo, Science and Environment Adviser
020 7344 1822 or

Barrie Clarke, Director of Communication
020 7344 1804