Consents to discharge

NATIONAL RIVERS AUTHORITY WATER RESOURCES ACT 1991 - CONSENT TO DISCHARGE... 

However, all of the functions in the formula, excluding the trade effluent functions Ot and Os, are different for each of the water companies and are reviewed annually. Therefore the unit costs of charges vary between the companies. Subject to other commercial considerations, the cost of trade waste charges could influence the water company area in which to locate an industrial plant. The conditions imposed in the Consent to Discharge could influence the location within an area most beneficial to plant location. 

Similar judgements must be made when transforming water quality objectives into local emission standards. These will be based on both the capacity of the local environment and upon the steps which it is technically and economically possible to take in order to control the discharge. This procedure has in the past been shrouded in secrecy and hence been open to considerable public criticism. However, it is now (1979) policy in Britain to publish the individual consents to discharge . 

The system developed by the Anglian Water Authority illustrates a partial application of this flexible approach to control (Fig. 6.2) [7]. Water quality objectives are set for each section of river based on the lowest relevant water quality criterion, derived in this case from a survey of the scientific literature. Local emission standards ( consents to discharge ) are then set to ensure that concentrations remain within the water quality objectives, taking into account the needs of the whole river system. In order to do this, use is made of a mass balance equation. Dilution by the receiving water is based on the mean flow in the river over the lowest flow 7 day period in 1973, a moderately dry year. In this rather simplistic application, no attempt is made to allow for transformations, losses etc. of lead in the receiving water. 

From the aqueous processes, the main process wastes are the residnes and washings arising at the end of processing runs. These generally contain latex and resin, but are usually much less concentrated than the normal dips. Snch residnes are sometimes accepted by the Water Authorities for treatment, provided that the pH, total solids and chemical oxygen demand fall within the limits of Consent to Discharge. Freqnently, it is necessary... 

DISCHARGE CONSENTS PeiTuission to discharge trade effluent directly into controlled waters is given by the National Rivers Authority in the form of a discharge consent which will specify amounts and conditions. Discharges to public sewers are controlled by discharge consents by one of the ten Water Service Companies. 

The National Rivers Authority, in pursuance of its powers under the above mentioned Act, HEREBY GIVES CONSENT to the discharge described hereunder subject to the terms and conditions set out below. 

Trade effluents may be discharged to the municipal sewers, to surface waters or on or into the land. Discharges to surface waters, including estuaries and coastal waters, or into the land, are controlled by means of Consents to... 

The significance of these industrial effluent disposal options on the location of an industrial plant is essentially cost. As previously stated, the EPA does not, as yet, impose a cost on effluents complying with the Consent standards discharged to surface waters or to land. However, the cost of installing and operating treatment... 

Command-and-control processes are the traditional way in which environmental pollution has been regulated. In typical form, this will amount to a license to emit a chemical or waste product to the environment but with conditions attached to the license that limit the quantity that can be released. Discharge consents to water are an example of this type of measure. 

The Act empowers the Secretary of State, through HM Inspectorate of Pollution, to control consents for discharge of industrial effluent to water. Discharge of any chemicals on the Department of Environment s (DoE) red list is controll l under the principle of BATNEEC. The red list consists of chemicals considered likely to be present in water, and which are toxic to health or the environment. High priority is given to chemicals which bioaccumulate or which are persistent in the environment. 

The water authority grants consent for discharges and must not withhold a consent unreasonably although it can refuse to place conditions on a consent. Appeal against a water authority s decision may be made to the Secretary of State. The water authority must keep a register of consents and of the analysis of any samples taken. Unless trade secrets are involved, the analysis and register must be made available to the public. Instead of discharging works effluent into natural waters, public sewers may be used subject to water authority conditions. The water authorities also have powers to take action to prevent possible pollution. 

Trade effluent, which is fully defined in the Water Industry Act 1991, is a liquid that is produced in tire course of any trade or industry on trade premises. It does not include domestic sewage or other domestic liquid waste. Waste materials classified as hazardous rmder the special waste regime may be discharged subject to agreement with the Water Service Provider. It is an offence to discharge trade effluent without the formal consent of the Water Services Companies or when in breach of any condition of such a consent. 

The Water Resources Act 1991 relates to water abstraction and to discharges to controlled waters. It is administered by the Environment Agency who apply stricter standards than those required under the Water Services Act since the discharges are to natural water courses that have no means of treatment Usually the water utility companies have consents from the Environmental Agency to discharge their treated effluent into controlled waters. 

Discharges to surface waters - in order to discharge to watercourses, consent from the Environment Agency is required. Disposal of new discharges by this route is usually subject to tight controls and is therefore not the usually favoured option. It is likely that disposal of effluent by this route will require treatment to strict limits. 

Processes giving rise to emissions to sewers or Red List substances. These are 23 substances inciuding mercury, cadmium and many pesticides which are subject to discharge consent to the satisfaction of the Environment Agency. 

In addition, the DoE proposed EQSs in a 1991 consultation document for those pesticides on the Red List (the UK s original priority hazardous substances list). Although non-statutory, the Government is committed to the reduction of Red List Substances discharging to the North Sea and the NRA uses the standards to assess the effects of these substances on the environment and to derive consents for point source discharges of these compounds. Failures for agricultural pesticides are rare. 

Table 16.15 Type of consent conditions for discharge to sewers. (Other factors, e.g. the specific sewer, flowrate, total ...

Table 16.16 Typical consent conditions for the discharge of industrial effluent to rivers and streams (UK)...

The higher the quality of the surface waters providing the supply, the more stringent will be the treated wastewater discharge consent standards imposed by the NRA on effluents returned to the surface waters. 

Discharge with the EPA and Agreements with the water companies. Discharges to controlled landfill sites are by agreement with the local waste disposal authority. In all cases the Consents and Agreements will impose conditions on the quantity, rate of discharge and chemical composition of the trade effluents acceptable for discharge. 

Correct design to optimize discharge within requirements of consent. Regulations, etc. ... 

Obtain the consent of pollution control authorities before discharging to waste-water treatment plants... 

There is a vast range of aqueous organic pollutants with a wide toxicity profile. Some, e.g. polychlorinated biphenyls, certain herbicides, fungicides and pesticides, and organo-mercury compounds, are persistent and may bioaccumulate in the food chain. Trace contaminants such as sodium chloride, iron and phenols (especially if chlorinated) may also impart a taste to water. Typical consent levels for industrial discharges are provided in Table 13.10. 

Discharge of trade effluent into a sewer requires a consent from the Sewerage Undertaker under a procedure set out in the Public Health (Drainage of Trade Premises) Act 1961, Control of Pollution Act 1974 and Water Act 1989. The Environmental Protection Act 1990 is also applicable to prescribed processes and substances. 

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