Do you want to discharge water or effluent to a surface water (for example a river, stream, estuary or the sea) or to groundwater? A discharge might be made through a pipe, drain, open channel, or infiltration system.
If you are wanting to discharge to ground by spreading on land, for example disposal of waste sheep dip, you should refer to groundwater specific guidance:
Surface run-off
If the water is clean surface run-off, for example, from a roof, road, pathway or clean hardstanding area, you do not need a permit. You just need to make sure your discharge stays clean and uncontaminated. For more information please visit the following page:
Discharges to a public foul sewer
If you want to discharge to a public foul sewer (or a drain that connects to one) you don’t need an environmental permit, but you should contact your sewerage undertaker, which is usually your local water company. Details of water companies can be found on the Ofwat website:
Sewage effluent
If you want to discharge treated sewage effluent, to a river, stream, estuary or the sea and the volume is 5 cubic metres per day or less you might be eligible for an exemption rather than a permit:
If you want to discharge sewage effluent, to groundwater via a drainage field or infiltration system and the volume is 2 cubic metres per day or less you might be eligible for an exemption rather than a permit:
If none of these apply, you need an environmental permit.
Discharges other than sewage effluent to groundwater
If you want to discharge small quantities of substances for scientific purposes to groundwater you might be eligible for an exemption rather than a permit:
Is my discharge covered by a low-risk position statement?
If your discharge complies with one of the regulatory position statements shown below, you do not need an environmental permit:
All other discharges to surface water or groundwater
If you want to make a discharge to surface water or groundwater and none of the above applies to you then you will need an environmental permit:
