Trade Effluent

Businesses are required to obtain trade effluent consent if they discharge trade effluent into public sewers or if they dispose of contaminated liquid waste (non-domestic) into sinks or toilets. Surface water run-off from contaminated surfaces being discharged into public sewers also requires trade effluent consent.

It is important to note that even if your trade effluent discharge is expected to be temporary, such as during construction works, you are still required to arrange for trade effluent consent.

If there are any changes to your trade effluent, such as changes in volume or composition, it is crucial to inform your water supplier promptly. This ensures that a new consent framework can be established, preventing any potential penalties or fines.

Trade effluent needs to be regulated for several important reasons. Firstly, many commercial and industrial processes involve the use of chemicals that can be hazardous, corrosive, or otherwise harmful to the environment and public health. Without proper regulation, the discharge of trade effluent could result in contamination of water bodies, soil, and ecosystems. Regulating trade effluent helps to ensure that potentially harmful substances are controlled and treated appropriately before being released into the environment.

Secondly, the sewerage system and wastewater treatment facilities are designed to handle specific types and volumes of wastewater. Trade effluent with high levels of certain substances, such as fats, oils, or chemicals, can overload the treatment processes and infrastructure, leading to inefficiencies, malfunctions, and increased costs. By regulating trade effluent, standards and limits on the composition and volume of effluent can be set to protect the integrity and functionality of the sewerage system.

Additionally, regulating trade effluent enables authorities to monitor and enforce compliance with environmental standards and regulations. This helps to prevent illegal or unauthorised discharges that could harm the environment or undermine the proper functioning of the wastewater treatment system.

Trade effluent regulation promotes sustainability and responsible resource management. By regulating the disposal and treatment of trade effluent, it encourages businesses to adopt more efficient and sustainable practices. This can include implementing water conservation measures, optimising processes to minimise effluent generation, and exploring opportunities for recycling or reusing wastewater.

Trade effluent is regulated by several entities, each with specific roles and responsibilities. The key regulatory bodies involved in overseeing trade effluent regulations in the UK are:

• Environment Agency (EA): the EA is responsible for enforcing environmental regulations and managing the impact of trade effluent on the environment. They issue permits and consents, conduct inspections, and monitor compliance with trade effluent regulations.
• Water and Sewerage Companies (WaSCS): the water and sewerage companies, also known as water suppliers or wholesalers, play a role in regulating trade effluent within their respective areas of operation. They manage trade effluent consent applications, determine charges, and provide guidance to businesses on compliance.
• Ofwat: Ofwat is the economic regulator of the water and wastewater industry in England and Wales. They oversee the pricing, performance, and service standards of water and sewerage companies, ensuring that trade effluent regulation is appropriately implemented.
• Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA): In Scotland, SEPA takes on a similar role to the EA. They are responsible for regulating and monitoring trade effluent to protect the environment and public health in Scotland.

These regulatory bodies work together to ensure that businesses comply with trade effluent regulations, obtain necessary consents, and operate in an environmentally responsible manner. They provide guidance, enforce compliance, and handle any complaints or issues related to trade effluent management.

The cost of trade effluent varies depending on various factors, including the volume and composition of the effluent, the region in which your business operates, and the specific tariff structure set by the water and wastewater retail provider.

When we discuss trade effluent, we are referring to polluted liquid waste and not solid waste.

This is not surface water or domestic sewage. Oils, grease, chemicals, food waste, soil, detergents, and other substances can contaminate trade effluent.

If your business is discharging this type of waste into the sewage system, you have a legal obligation to declare it. Sewer effluent requires a more severe treatment process, which is why businesses must secure legal consent. The aim is to prevent this waste entering our rivers, lakes and oceans and causing severe water pollution issues.

Water companies define your trade effluent regulations on a case-by-case basis.

Often, depending on the size and scale of your business, the industry you're in and the amount of trade in your area. Some of the factors they may consider are:

• Temperature: High temperatures create an unsafe working environment so you must remain within the limit (43.3°C).
• Ammonia: As well as being highly toxic to animals, ammonia can cause toxicity issues.
• Volume/flow rate: The amount of trade effluent you dispose of daily will depend on the limit outlined in your consent.
• Chemical Oxygen Demand Limit: This measurement shows how much chemical is in your effluent. Authorities set limits to prevent wastewater facilities from being overwhelmed.
• Suspended solids: Solid particles like silt or sediment in your liquid effluent can damage pipes.
• Oil and Grease: Fats, oils and grease (FOG) can damage public water ways when they solidify, causing blockages.
• pH: Sewage treatment facilities control the pH balance to protect staff, ensure effective treatment and protect infrastructure.

Water companies only class septic tank waste as trade effluent when it includes discharge from industrial processes.

In most instances, wholesalers measure trade effluent volume with a meter.

By installing meters on discharge pipes, they're able to measure the volume of liquid leaving the premises directly. They monitor this as it enters the sewage treatment plant.

If your business doesn't have a meter on the discharge pipe, you could also be sub-metered on water input. Wholesalers asses the volume entering the commercial property and assume the volume of liquid effluent discharged.

Finally, a calculation discharge method may identify your trade effluent volume. For example, wholesalers or water companies often calculate landfill sites based on the size of the area and the monthly rainfall. You will always agree on this before the tariff begins.

An effluent treatment plant processes liquid effluent using treatment systems that rely on biological processes to break down waste.

The Environment Agency monitor the process to ensure it meets safety and environmental standards. This helps protect local waterways and the wider environment.

Domestic sewage isn’t classed as trade effluent. This includes waste safely discharged from kitchen sinks, toilets and showers. The main sewage system treats all organic matter therefore we don't need to run additional biological treatments.

Water companies often classify septic effluent as domestic sewage. Therefore, you do not need to seek legal consent to discharge it. However, companies classify septic tank waste as trade effluent when you dispose of likely polluted material.

If you're unsure about your effluent, contact our experts for trade effluent advice.