Pollution discharge consents

Effluents, See also Pollution Trade effluent Waste consent conditions. See Discharge consents control, 529... 

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. 

SI 1983/1182 Control of Pollution (Exemption of Certain Discharges from Control) Order SI 1984/864 The Control of Pollution (Consents for Discharges) (Notices) Regulations SI 1986/1623 Control of Pollution (Exemption of Certain Discharges from Control) (Vanations) Order SI 1987/1782 The Control of Pollution (Exemption of Certain Discharges from Control) (Variation) Order SI 1989/1147 Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations... 

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. 

The 1991 Water Resources Act relates to the control of discharges to controlled waters. Section 85(1) states A person contravenes this section if he causes or knowingly permits any poisonous, noxious or polluting matter or any solid waste matter to enter any controlled waters . The Act defines controlled waters and provides for the Secretary of State to establish water-quality objectives and the attainment of these objectives. The Act provides powers to the Environment Agency to prosecute a consent-holder if conditions are breached and to serve a works notice on an offender requiring them to remove or alleviate the pollution. Section 190 of the Act also established registers that include details such as notices of water-quality objectives applications made for consents consents and the conditions to which the consents are subject samples of water or effluent taken by the [Agency] for the purposes of any of the water pollution provisions of this Act and information produced by analyses of those samples. 

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. 

Industrial effluents tend to be complex and vary significantly from one industry to another consequently they must be treated on a case-by-case basis [40]. The potential impact of industrial effluents when discharged to sewer is assessed primarily by measurement of volume, COD (chemical oxygen demand) and suspended solids. Consents, or effluent standards, are normally issued by regulators for discharge to sewer [41 ], and these include limits on volume, COD, suspended solids and specific pollutant types, for example heavy metals, grease and oil, persistent and/or toxic organics and colour from waste dyes. 

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