Trade effluent is any liquid waste that is discharged from a business premises to the public sewers. You must have a trade effluent licence to discharge trade effluent to the sewer. Trade effluent customers are charged to have the wastewater they discharge to Uisce Éireann’s network treated. Uisce Éireann has maintained the previous trade effluent rates of each local authority which were applied on 31 December 2013. There are 34 different trade effluent charging regimes across the country. For more information visit https://www.water.ie/
Under the provisions of the Local Government (Water Pollution) Acts, 1977 and 1990 local authorities are responsible for issuing of effluent discharge licences to water. Irish Water are responsible for issuing Effluent Discharge Licence to sewers.
Section 4 Licenses
Discharge licences are issued under Section 4 of the Local Government (Water Pollution) Act 1977, as amended in 1990, in respect of the discharge of trade effluent to surface water or groundwater. Licences set conditions so the discharge is treated and controlled in a manner that protects the receiving environment.
The discharge of trade effluent to waters without a licence is an offence under the Act. Failure to comply with the terms and conditions of a Discharge Licence is an offence under the Local Government (Water Pollution) Act 1977, as amended.
Discharge to Sewer – Section 16 Licences
Discharge licences in respect of the discharge of trade effluent to sewer are issued under Section 16 of the Local Government (Water Pollution) Act 1977, as amended. Section 16 discharge licence application forms are available from Irish Water, please call 1800 278 278 or visit the Irish Water website www.water.ie/tradeeffluent.
Licences regarding trade effluent
Section 4 Review Application of Licence to Discharge Trade Effluent to Waters
Section 4 Application for a Licence to Discharge Trade Effluent to Waters