Trade effluent environmental legislation

This page provides links to the full text of key pieces of environmental legislation relating to trade effluent. The websites hosting the legislation may list amendments separately.

If you are setting up an environmental management system (EMS) for your business, you can use this list to start compiling your legal register. Your legal adviser or environmental consultant will be able to tell you if other environmental legislation applies to your specific business.

Environmental management systems and environmental reports

Northern Ireland Legislation

Water (Northern Ireland) Order SI 1999/662. Makes provision for discharge consents. Enables the Department of Environment to set water quality objectives and prevent pollution from anti-pollution works.

Water and Sewerage Services (Northern Ireland) Order SI 2006/3336. Establishes government-owned companies' obligations for water supply, drinking water quality, trade effluent and sewage disposal, water and sewerage charges and customer service.

Scottish Legislation

Sewerage (Scotland) Act 1968. Requires the water and sewerage undertaker to provide public sewers as necessary for domestic sewage, surface water and trade effluent. Regulates discharges of trade effluent by grant of consent or by agreement.

Control of Pollution Act 1974. Sets out legal framework for controlling trade effluent discharges into public sewers.

Water Environment (Controlled Activities) (Scotland) Regulations SSI 2011/209. Replaces 2005/348 (as amended). Increases the transparency and efficiency of processing applications for water use licences, and introduces greater flexibility to deal with emergency situations where there are imminent risks of serious harm to people, property or the environment.

In this Guideline

How to deal with Trade Effluent

Disposal top a public sewer

Dealing with effluent that cannot go to foul sewer

Disposal to land where no public sewer is available

Disposal to water where no public sewer is available

Using septic tanks and package treatment plants

Reducing and treating your trade effluent

Avoiding spills and unauthorised effluent discharges

Trade effluent environmental legislation