What is “Effluent Discharge” and how is it generated?

The Local Government (Water Pollution) Act, 1977, as amended defines trade effluent as “effluent from any works, apparatus, plant or drainage pipe used for the disposal to waters or to a sewer of any liquid (whether treated or untreated), either with or without particles of matter in suspension therein, which is discharged from premises used for carrying on any trade or industry (including mining), but does not include domestic sewage or storm water;”

In recent decades, there has been a significant increase in numbers of industrial and commercial sites generating such effluent.

Examples include:

• Restaurants
• Fast food outlets incl. Deli-counters in supermarkets/petrol stations
• Industries
• Quarries
• Car wash facilities
• Food processors

Categories of Effluent Discharge

The legislation categories two types of discharge:

1. “to waters” under Section 4 of the 1977 Act, i.e.  

(a) any (or any part of any) river, stream, lake, canal, reservoir, aquifer, pond, watercourse or  other inland waters, whether natural or artificial,

        (b) any tidal waters, and

        (c) where the context permits, any beach, river bank and salt marsh or other area which is contiguous to anything mentioned in (a) or (b), and the channel or bed of anything mentioned in paragraph (a) which is for the time being dry, but does not include a sewer.

This type of discharge is more frequently encountered in rural areas and enforcement of the legal provisions is undertaken wholly by local authorities.

2. “to sewer” under Section 16 of the 1977 Act, including treatment or disposal works.

This type of discharge is more frequently encountered in urban areas or rural areas with sewer networks and enforcement of the legislative provisions is shared by local authorities and Irish Water.

Go to Irish Water for application form for discharge to sewers https://www.water.ie/