Consent to Discharge

Under the Water Resources Act 1991(as amended by the Environment Act 1995) you need permission from the Environment Agency if you want to discharge effluent to:

• Inland freshwaters

• Coastal Water or Estuaries

• Groundwaters or land

This includes

• Septic Tanks

• Package Treatment Plants

• Soakaways

• Boreholes

Having checked with the Environmental Agency, 28th February 2008, they have confirmed that ALL septic tanks and soakaway systems in England & Wales are required to have a "Consent to Discharge".  This includes existing old systems as well as new systems. 

All new packaged treatment systems such as the Biokube system also need a consent to discharge from the environmental agency, whether the discharge goes to a soakaway or to a watercourse directly.

For domestic situations the forms you require are:

Form WQP1 - Guidance notes for application for a consent to discharge

Form WQP1 - Application for a consent to discharge or to vary a consent: Part C

These are available from the Environmental Agency website.

Please contact us directly if you have any questions regarding this matter.